Food on the TGVs between France and Spain?
In a few days time, I'll be taking a long TGV trip, on the new(ish) service between Barcelona and Paris. Given the length of the journey, I'm wondering about the food available on board, and hence if I should be looking to buy some things before boarding or not.
The English page on TGV food and drinks seems to be rather vague on what's available, and also on quantities available. The English page on the Paris-Barcelona services mentions Restauration carriages on board which I take to be a badly translated bit about food being available, but I can't work out if that means there's a normal Bar TGV cafe, or something else?
What is the food situation on these long cross-border TGVs?
Best Answer
First apparently this line is indeed operated with TGVs and voyages-sncf says that there is a restaurant coach on these.
I found the exact menu but in French (and with bad quality graphics). In short, they offer a choice (I mean there are multiple items of each type) of hot dishes and cold sandwiches, desserts, cookies, hot and cold drinks, usually packaged before boarding (no food prepared on board). They supposedly improved the quality of products last year, following critics.
There is one coach with the "restaurant" (a counter with someone selling products and some tables you can stand by) per train (sometimes two trains are attached to each other, but one is not accessible from the other).
However, in France it is very popular to eat your own food on the train (partially because the food on board is rather expensive). Many people pack their sandwiches/picnic and their drinks before boarding and eat at their seat (there is a small tablet for each seat). I would recommend you to do so with at least some food and if you want more or if you want hot food/drinks, go for the restaurant coach while on board.
Also note that there is no break during the journey (unless you have a connection), so you cannot get off the train and buy something in a station - the train would leave without you.
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Answer 2
SNCF's TGV page has a section about the TGV BAR/Restaurant which you might want to look at.
They offer both snacks but also full meals - e.g. the page mentions:
Several suggestions are available for a wide range of prices:
- Menu Bio : €11,90*
- Menu Gourmand (entree, main course, drink) : from €8,90 to €12,90*
- Menu Malin (sandwich, drink, dessert) : €6,90*
*2012 menu price.
Feeling a bit hungry? The TGV bar also serves sweet snacks during the day. From 18:00 you can choose a savoury snack (crisps or peanuts) to enjoy with your alcoholic beverage.
The (Spanish) renfe page is even more sparse on information, but also mentions restaurant service available.
Experience on TGV says that in normal operation there's two of those carriages on every train and food is usually acceptable though not comparable to a good restaurant. Note: I don't know about the cross border service to Spain, but I have found that in some cases they sell out before the end of the journey..
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