SNCF Connect: Trains & routes

Really the gold standard for train travel. Airlines have really been way ahead in the past for functionality, ease of use and performance, but this app has virtually everything you need to manage your travel, from search, purchase, track and status. And considering French isn’t my first language (évidemment!) the ease of use is more impressive. The only knock would be it doesn’t seem to be offline-first design; could be a bit tighter in terms of network vs local data. Still, great app, and a real lifesaver for traveling in France.

If French comprehension is not your best skill this app is invaluable for up to the minute updates. It saved us time, confusion and anxiety on figuring out why our train was not showing up in the board, or when we had to got off our train and switch to another at the last minute. It sends you English text updates so there’s no panic with what’s going on.

Booking a train trip does not seem at all possible, if, say, I need to go out of France, on any day but today. Keeping my expensive senior card in the memory of the app seems impossible (isn’t that why we have computers?) as I’ve had to re-enter these excessively long numbers over and over each time I try (and can’t) book tickets. App doesn’t recognise cities located outside of France. Since I don’t carry my computer with me everywhere, the inability to use any one of the FIVE APPS to book a ticket is a serious inconvenience. The privatisation ISN'T WORKING. This will influence my vote in the forthcoming election. French/American citizen. EDITED—-The retention of data appears to be FIXED and getting better. In addition, local data has been added. If there is local data added for all France, then this will be the BEST app for getting around France, from any POINT A to POINT B. Amazingly includes local buses, TER, and TGV. I eat my words above. Thanks.