What is it like on SNCF's TER regional trains ? (TRIP REPORT)

Good morning folks, this video starts in the city of La Rochelle and today I make a quick ride on an SNCF TER service to Rochefort. TER is the brand for regional trains in France, but how good are they actually? Are they as bad as we in France make them out to be ? Enjoy the video! :)
Thumbnail credit: @Le Ferrovipathe on KZbin
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Date of travel: August 2021
Start: La Rochelle
End: Rochefort
Operator: SNCF TER
Train no.: 864807
Class of travel: Second Class
Journey time: 0hr 23mn
Price: 5 € (£4.18/$ 5.68)

[@NonstopEurotrip]

Funnily enough I have travelled on a few TERs in my time, and I find them excellent, especially with the €1 fares 🥰 Very informative video Ben, well done! 👍🏻🇨🇵

[@trainlagged]

They're a great way to travel fast and cheap, no worrying about car parking or whatever else. Sadly they have a reputation in France of being slow, dirty, uncomfortable...

[@NonstopEurotrip]

@@trainlagged Bloody French, never happy 😂

[@kikibzh4262]

Hi, Thank you for this nice video. I like traveling with regional trains in France, and this AGC family is for me the best series from the “regional train renewal” since around 2000. They looks nice, confortable, and pleasant to ride, for short trips or more longer route. They are in mid-age now, but still very attractive, and I prefer travelling with them than with newer trains like Regiolis. Can I have one negative point about your video ? Station Rochefort looks very beautiful too. As for La Rochelle, could it be very nice that you filmed it a little more, Ending with the train departure from the platform is like stopping to watch a film before the end. Sorry if I’m a little to direct, but it’a disappoint me in many trains reports, to not see the “arrival experience” like the departure,

[@trainlagged]

Thanks for the feedback and I will absolutely take that into account! I try and film as much as possible on departure but in this occasion, I was in a rush since I arrived just on time. As for the arrival, I had never seen it like that so thank you for your comment on that! I’ll try and film much more of the « arrival » in future. I appreciate the comments, glad you enjoyed! :)

[@Andrewjg_89]

Most of France is beautiful with amazing places to see and wonderful buildings to explore. And Paris is incredible.

[@s125ish]

Certainly

[@trainlagged]

And it’s a great country to see and visit by train too ! :)

[@NonstopEurotrip]

I would certainly debate the 'Paris is incredible' comment 😆

[@trainlagged]

@@NonstopEurotrip overrated as hell, but nice when you know where to go! As a good Parisian I haven’t even been up the Eiffel Tower 😌

[@Andrewjg_89]

@@trainlagged Keep up the good work 😄

[@jacobporrett]

Only French thing I've travelled on is the EuroStar. Never been on the French railways. Great video.

[@trainlagged]

Thank you!

[@trainsoftheworld1]

Nice video! Enjoyed watching it. You have my sub :) Best wishes from Switzerland

[@trainlagged]

Thank you very much! More to come soon :)

[@larshelmin]

The TER train are good if there are newer trains running on the route like the one in the video. And really bad if you ride on the older rolling stock made for local lines. Some longer TER lines uses older long distance rolling stock from the pre-TGV era, they are ok. Sometimes it nicer to take the TER train instead of the TGV because of a more scenic route, for example between Lyon and Avignon riding along the river Rhône.

[@trainlagged]

The vast majority of TERs nowadays are modern units. The older trains are currently being phased out everywhere - but I wouldn't go as far as calling them "really bad" - the VR2Ns you'll find around Calais and Lille are maybe not in the best shape but really shine in terms of capacity! And yes I agree, the "slower" way is often the nicest :)

[@470danadidas]

Loved it .

[@trainlagged]

Thank you! :)

[@Prodigious1One]

I used to ride the TER train between Saint-Etienne and Lyon. It's a good ride. The train sounds like a truck when it starts to move.

[@trainlagged]

Ah, a bit, thanks to the diesel engine! They’re very enjoyable trains to ride, for sure.

[@ericdanielski4802]

Nice train.

[@trainlagged]

They’re really neat, definitely.

[@DavidR-hg3lp]

I have travelled same train but to Bordeaux .... also Nantes to Cholet .... I like them

[@craiglogistics2092]

I shall be sharing this video on my Facebook group called "Great European Railways" which you may apply to join at your convenience, cheers

[@trainlagged]

Thank you Craig! I'm glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@emip3675]

Hi, I have a question, did you buy a ticket on a train station or did you book it earlier on a website?

[@trainlagged]

Ticket was bought via oui.sncf website (now SNCF Connect) two hours prior to departure

[@emip3675]

@@trainlagged Great, thank you I just can't find that cheap tickets but I will check once again

[@pedrorubiotejero_aka_prt]

Video's score: 11