TER SNCF ticket machine - how to buy tickets in France (step-by-step guide)

Step-by-step guide how to buy a single (one way) ticket by using TER SNCF self-service ticket machine. As an example let`s examine the procedure of buying one way ticket from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Nice Main Train Station (Gare de Nice-Ville) in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

Key features:

- You can pay by coins or by credit cards
- You cannot pay by banknotes
- You have to validate your ticket in yellow box before getting on the train.
- French, English or Italian languages are available in the ticketing machine.

Round button on the left side is for cancellation of the action, rotating disk on the right side is for choosing menu item and confirmation (by pressing the disk centre).

Rotate and then press central button to confirm.

Start screen: you can see information in French.

Didn`t understand?  Don`t worry – it`s OK. Just press the central button on the disk.

To switch to English rotate the disk and select the flag of the United Kingdom. 

Much better… «Press the green button» sign means press the central button. Do it!

Now select Plein Tarif Adulte – Enfant if you want to buy single/return ticket. Then press central button.

Select departure station (station where you are now – by default). Press the central button and so on…

Select arrival station - Nice Ville as example (right part of the screen). Press «Other station» button and select first 2-3 letters of the name of a station if it`s not in the list.

Select number of recipients (Adults and Children), then select 2nd class, Single or Return ticket.

Choose travel date.

Check your ticket and press central button to confirm.

Check the price and insert coins (quickly) or credit card.

Don`t forget to validate your ticket before getting on the train.
Check class of a coach (car). Note that there are also coaches without class sign (means 2nd class).