Sun, 21 March 2010
Text size
France boasts modern, efficient and affordable transport services across the country. Here are the basics on how train, bus, subway and taxi services work including some handy contact information.National and inter-regional transport is covered by the state-run railway network, the SNCF, as well as by inter-city flights operated by the Air France group and budget carriers who have struggled to establish new routes in Air France territory.
The major French cities offer at the least adequate and often comprehensive public transport as a cheap alternative to the use of cars, which many urban authorities are increasingly discouraging.
Paris
The public transport system in and around Paris is probably the best of any city in Europe in terms of geographical spread, speed, upkeep and tariffs. The capital is criss-crossed with publicly-run services by bus, underground (or subway) and overhead rail and trams, which are all grouped under one authority, called the RATP.
You can buy one-journey tickets or the cheaper travel passes that allow you to use any of the services as often as you please. The pass commonly used by commuters in and around the capital is called the carte orange, which covers transport across an area of up to some 50 kilometres around the capital.
A contactless magnetic pass allowing passengers to pass through gates smoothly is now available and if combined with a direct-debit ‘Integrale’ subscription provides roughly 10 months unlimited travel within the zones selected for the price of 12 with a conventional ticket.
Most employers will pay 50 percent of the cost of any travel pass.
The Paris underground métro lines serve virtually every small neighbourhood in the capital, and run from 5.30am until around 1am. A revamped night bus service linking central Paris to destinations all over the city and the Ile de France region will get you home during the small hours.
The average frequency of métro trains is around every five minutes. The métro lines are designated by number, and the direction is indicated by the name of the terminus station.
Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in France.
Here's a short introduction to our Where to Live section for France.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Flickr
General rating: Not rated yet
Rate article:
Add my rating