Quantcast

Ouigo offers efficient travel experience between Paris and Bordeaux

Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Ouigo offers efficient travel experience between Paris and Bordeaux
Events
Webp f6yhbtzip7n1bl824z3xihud6bag
Runway Girl Network | Runway Girl Network

Traveling across Europe is often more convenient by train than plane, with extensive regional and high-speed rail networks providing numerous options. Having arrived in Paris for the Olympic Games, I opted to use Ouigo to travel to and from Bordeaux.

Ouigo, a low-cost high-speed service under the TGV umbrella of French high-speed trains or lignes à grande vitesse, is operated by SNCF, the national rail company. This no-frills service was launched in 2013 and uses the same network of high-speed lines as the full-fare TGV inOui services.

Ouigo’s fleet consists of bright blue and pink colored TGV Duplex double-decker high-speed trains built by Alstom. Each train set includes eight second-class passenger cars and two power cars, accommodating up to 634 passengers per train set—20% more than the inOui full-service offering. Coupled sets can carry 1,268 passengers.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

There are no stations on the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique line to Bordeaux; access to cities like Tours or Angoulême en route is provided by flying junctions connecting to conventional networks running parallel to the high-speed line.

With five Ouigo and 21 inOui weekday services each way between 6 am and 10 pm, the LGV extension from Tours to Bordeaux has been successful since its launch in 2017.

The budget seats on board are arranged in a 2-2 configuration without recline or headrest adjustment but offer ample legroom. Most seating follows an airline style layout with some bays of four for larger groups. Power sockets are absent, though there are luggage racks at both ends on both decks. The overhead racks on the upper deck can accommodate small items but not carry-on suitcases; space under seats is used for smaller items.

Tickets must be purchased online as Ouigo does not have ticket counters or physical tickets. The €44 Ouigo Plus tickets included an upgrade for additional baggage, seat selection, and access to onboard Wi-Fi (‘Ouifi’). Wi-Fi speed was measured at 2.89 Mbps with basic features such as a moving map and limited entertainment options.

There is minimal onboard service apart from one trash collection mid-journey. Tickets were checked before platform entry rather than onboard scanning during our trip.

Accessibility remains an issue due to steps required to enter each carriage; however, accessible seats and restrooms are available on lower decks with staff-operated ramps when needed.

Restrooms upstairs were clean but small, matching Ouigo's color scheme with pink toilet paper.

Overall, both journeys were smooth. The non-stop southbound service took 123 minutes for its 499 km route while stopping twice on return added only 24 minutes overall. Both departures were punctual; we arrived six minutes late in Bordeaux but returned two minutes early.

France has banned flights on routes covered within less than 150 minutes by train; hence many price-conscious travelers prefer “oui” to Ouigo over other transport modes.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Flying Food Group announced its April Sustainability Report, highlighting new plastic-free office initiatives, distribution of reusable water bottles to employees, support for Earth Day reforestation efforts, and a broader push to promote...

Apr 22, 2025

Emirates has announced a new partnership between its Skywards loyalty program and Emarat's EmCan program, allowing members to convert Skywards Miles into EmCoins and vice versa.

Apr 22, 2025

Viva Aerobus is enhancing its presence in the United States with new routes, including the launch of service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Felipe Ángeles International Airport, starting November 1.

Apr 22, 2025

Allegiant Air has launched a two-day sale offering up to 30% off select fares.

Apr 22, 2025

Airlines for America has expressed its support for the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) initiative to modernize the Notice to Air Missions system (NOTAM), emphasizing its significance in maintaining operational safety.

Apr 22, 2025

Airlines for America announced on X that it is promoting the 2025 joint ATA e-Business Forum & S1000D User Forum, scheduled for October 6–8 in Montreal, Canada.

Apr 21, 2025