SNCF Connect

It has commercial links to major European rail operators including SNCF, Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, and Thalys, and is made up of four independent companies in distinct geographical areas.

[8] In 1893, the Chemin de Fer du Nord became the first French private railway to be represented in the UK, establishing an office at London Victoria station.

In 1937 France nationalised its rail network and the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF) was created by the merger of the state railway company with five other principal operators.

In 1995 French Railways opened a larger public call centre in Leake Street (near Waterloo station) in London, and two years later acquired British Rail International.

The journey took place in two stages; the Eurostar on a Friday from London or Ashford International to Paris, followed by a transfer to an overnight sleeper service composed of 10 Vu-84 Corail coaches with sleeping accommodation consisting of six berth "couchette" compartments.

This overnight service called at Chambéry, Albertville, Aime la Plagne and Landry, terminating at Bourg St Maurice early Saturday morning.

[11] British skiers wishing to travel by train to the French Alps during the winter can now instead take the Eurostar to Paris and change for high-speed or overnight services to stations like Chamonix, Bourg St Maurice, Briançon, Moûtiers and Megève.

Operating from May to September, Rail Europe's French Motorail service was aimed at travellers wishing to take their cars to the South of France and onwards with a minimum amount of driving.

[12][13][14] On 5 February 2009, SNCF was fined € 5 million by the French Conseil de la concurrence for "giving a preferential treatment to its subsidiary voyages-sncf.com, created with the American online travel agency Expedia".