Seniors can benefit from reduced fares on public transport and in particular for train journeys with the SNCF. In the 1990s, the SNCF introduced the "vermeil card" as part of its commercial policy for people aged over 60, in order to offer them advantageous rates.
The SNCF changed the name of this card in 2000 to name it "card senior" then, in 2012, "card senior+". What are the advantages of the senior+ card? What are the conditions for benefiting from the reduced rates offered by the senior+ card?
The senior+ card, like the vermeil card, is intended for people aged over 60. This is a personal card, renewable every year, which allows you to benefit from advantageous rates for an unlimited number of train journeys with TGV, TER or Intercités and for certain services offered by the SNCF.
The senior+ card costs 60 euros and is not means-tested. All seniors can buy it by different means:
The senior+ card must be renewed every year through the same contacts as for its purchase. The SNCF offers people aged over 60 who renew their senior+ card in the last month of its validity, or in the first three months following its expiry date, a discount of 10 euros, which therefore reduces the price of the senior+ card at 50 euros. This card is amortized from two train journeys.
The senior+ card entitles you to different discounts depending on the train journey booked.
These reductions apply if the holder of the senior+ card travels during specific periods defined in the "travellers calendar" available on the SNCF website.
Note:in the TER, people over 60 years old systematically benefit from a 25% "Discovery senior" reduction without travel period restrictions and without having to hold the senior+ card. In addition, the senior+ card cannot be used on the Ile-de-France rail network, where the RATP offers other types of reduction cards (the "Emerald card" or the "Amethyst card"), all two means-tested and aimed at people over 65 or over 60 if they are deemed unfit for work.
Whether traveling on national or regional trains, the senior+ card also entitles the holder to last-minute offers as well as the person accompanying them, regardless of age.
Developed in collaboration with other European countries, the senior+ card offers reductions on European train journeys between France and Germany, France and Italy, France and Luxembourg, between Paris and Fribourg-en- Brisgau (in Germany), on journeys with the Swiss TGV "Lyria". The senior+ card also entitles you to a 25% reduction on international train journeys in countries that have joined the "Railplus" scheme.
Alongside reductions in train travel fares, the senior+ card also allows you to benefit from advantageous rates on certain services offered by the SNCF:
