SNCF TER Nomad 1st class, Paris Saint-Lazare

In addition to a business trip that took me to Paris, I booked a trip to Caen at the last minute, due to the state of health of one of my family members. At the same time, I’ll be able to get to know the new trains that have been equipping the Paris-Caen-Cherbourg lines since the start of 2021.

Here’s the itinerary I followed, which I hadn’t planned to review at the beginning:

#	Type	Review
1	Lounge	Salon Plaza Premium, London Heathrow Terminal 2 (not reviewed, but similar review herei)
2	Flight	Air France Business, London LHR to Paris CDG, Airbus A320 (not reviewd but similar review here)
3	Hotel	Renaissance Paris Vendôme, Parisian Suite (not reviewed this time, but previous review here)
4	Train	SNCF TER Nomad 1ère classe, Paris Saint-Lazare – Caen
5	Flight	Air France Economy, Caen Carpiquet to Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Embraer E190
6	Flight	Air France Business, Lyon Saint-Exupéry to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Embraer E190
7	Flight	Air France Business, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle to London Heathrow, Airbus A320

Today’s itinerary

Purchase

I buy my ticket the day before I leave for Caen. At that point, plenty of seats were still available, in both first and second class.

I choose to book first class, on the first train of the morning, for €24 one way. As for the return trip to London, instead of returning to Paris, I chose to leave directly from Caen, with a connection in Lyon and Paris.

This will save me having to change from Gare Saint-Lazare to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, and could check-in my luggage from end to end.

Boarding

I’m having some trouble booking an Uber from my hotel to take me to Gare Saint-Lazare. In the end, I decide to walk, which takes about 20 minutes. So I arrive at Gare Saint-Lazare at the very last minute, 10 minutes before the train is due to depart.

Gare Saint-Lazare barely awakens on my arrival

For some time now, the Lignes Normandes have been well separated from the suburban flow at Gare Saint-Lazare, which is now behind control lines.

The Normandy lines are also behind control lines, but Main Line control lines.

So I board my now double-decker train!

LED signs indicate the train’s destination and intermediate stops

Cabin and welcome

This is a regional train now, so there’s no special welcome on the platform.

Displays show train progress on the line

The cabin, on the other hand, is very attractive, both in first and second class.

The cabin is really beautiful and not stuffy despite the low ceilings.

The first-class seat just had more privacy, but not really any extra comfort, it’s very similar to the second-class seat.

77C65A02-C8E3-44AA-B3F1-88ABF96202EA — With a low occupancy level, *privacy* is even better

Nevertheless, there are some very interesting face-to-face spaces for two that are almost totally enclosed, and quite pleasant.

The impression of being in a TGV Océane (cf. review to Angoulême)

Each seat is equipped with a power socket and two USB sockets for recharging all your electronic devices.

As the Normandy countryside comes into view

Service and catering

There’s no service on these trains either, but at least, unlike before, there’s a self-service vending machine and coffee machine.

A coffee machine that delivers a beverage of acceptable quality

The toilets are also very clean, and for the most part accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Arrival and disembarkation

For once, the train will arrive on time at Caen station. Many passengers got off at intermediate stops, as the train stopped at Évreux-Normandie, Bernay and Lisieux, facilitating connections to Trouville-Deauville.