Seat numbering system on French TGV trains to change

French national rail operator SNCF is changing the seat numbering on many of its high-speed TGV trains to minimise confusion for passengers. 

The change is being made to “harmonise and simplify the numbering system across the entire system,” SNCF said in a press release, as this “was previously a source of stress,” for some rail travellers.

The system is also being updated to quicken boarding times, particularly at intermediate stations on high-speed routes where stopping time is limited.

The new three-digits system will apply to tickets for certain TGV InOui and international TGV Lyria services to Switzerland from December 14, before a full rollout at the start of 2026.

Tickets for some services after this date are currently available for purchase after winter tickets went on sale earlier this month.

How does the new system work?

Under the new system, the first digit corresponds to the coach number of the train, with the next two digits the seat number for the ticket. 

For example, if your ticket is for coach 6 and your seat number is 53, your ticket will have the number ‘653’. 

For TGVs with more than 10 coaches on the service (some ‘double’ trains run with up to 18), the first digit of the ticket will correspond to the second digit of the coach number – ‘513’ could refer to seat 13 on both coaches 5 and 15. 

While this may sound like it will add confusion, tickets will also continue to contain full information such as the coach number, as well as whether the seat is upstairs or downstairs, which class the ticket is in, etc. 

This will allow passengers to place themselves at the right area of the platform in advance of boarding.

Currently, the high-speed low-cost TGV OuiGo trains use the three-digit numbering system on its services, and the incoming TGV-M trains – set to gradually join the fleet from 2026 onwards – already have the numbering system in place. 

Internal seat numbers are also being made clearer as part of the move.

“The numbers will follow in ascending order from left to right, starting with the carriage entrance,” said the SNCF, to remove “the feeling of random numbers,” some passengers have complained of. 

For double-decker trains, seats 1-39 will be in the lower deck, with seats numbered 40+ in the higher level.

Full information is available through the SNCF’s press release here.