Second hand train tickets - France / Thalys
A bloke frequently travelling Brussels-Paris with the Thalys told me there is a second hand market.
I can't find any such thing? Any idea? Would it be a French thing or a Thalys thing?
I am going from Brussels to south of France. (I am kind of thinking that there should be some cancellations after recent events).
Best Answer
A quick google turned up http://www.kelbillet.com/. Searching for Brussels-Paris gives a price comparison including train, bus, air, and car sharing. The train option includes tickets being privately resold by other site users ("billets d'occasion"), sometimes at quite attractive prices.
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Can you resell a train ticket?
Just wondering why it is not legal to sell / transfer train tickets? Any person found to be transfering a rail ticket is liable for Prosecution as all Tickets remain the property of the railways and sold subject to the National Rail Conditions of Carriage.Can someone else use my train ticket?
Train tickets can be brought by anyone even though certain tickets will have the name of the traveller or person who booked the tickets printed on them. If the ticket is to be delivered by post there are no important considerations when buying a ticket for someone else.How do you get a discount on Thalys?
Book in advance and save money! Don't worry; the best way to save money is to book as early as possible. Thalys allows you to book up to 4 months before departure. Instead of booking last-minute, book as early as possible for the best chance at getting the lowest rates.What is the difference between first and second class on Thalys?
The one major difference between first and second class is meal service at your seat. Not all first class reservations offer a meal service, yet it can be expected on premier operators such as Eurostar, Thalys, and Lyria.Thalys PREMIUM Class WONDERFUL experience from Paris to Brussels
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Answer 2
A word of warning: while regular train tickets in France are not nominative, some may have a name on them (and require an ID to be presented on board), or only be valid for specific groups of people (students, elderly, holders of specific discount cards etc). You'll be in trouble if you travel with such a ticket.
Online ticket markets are relatively safe (they don't allow such tickets to be traded), but double-check will never hurt, as realizing your ticket is invalid is much cheaper before you actually board the train. Needless to say, extra caution should be taken when buying tickets from individuals.
Also note that most second-hand tickets are non-refundable, so you'll be at loss if you're late or your travel plans change.
Answer 3
Trocdetrains is the best website for secondhand Thalys tickets. It's only in French, though. Tickets can't be sold for more than the original price paid by the seller.
Thalys officially requires an ID with the same name as on the ticket but, practically, they never check. Upon boarding the train, they check the date and time on your ticket; inside the train, they scan the bar code. They might, but typically don't, notice if you are travelling with a ticket in the name of obviously the opposite sex (e.g., female passenger with a secondhand ticket in a male name).
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Images: Lukas, Lukas, Francesco Paggiaro, Pixabay