Any tips for getting cheap train tickets to/through France?

[CaptainNelson]

Hi
I'd like to travel down to SW France by train this year, rather than flying. We'd go to Toulouse then get the local train to our end destination. Does anyone have any tips for how to get a good deal? I don't really trust the trainline as the UK tickets on there are usually not the cheapest ones.
TIA

The Man in Seat Sixty-One www.seat61.com/ is a website with loads of helpful information about train travel abroad, so that would be an obvious starting point.

Thanks Mykingdom

Download the Oui SNCF app and search for tickets through that, it will show you the cheapest fare on each day and the conditions. You can then book mobile tickets via the app.

For long distance check OuiGo the budget version of TGV, but beware many TGV stations are outside city centres.

Also check Ouibus and Flixbus as can be much cheaper than trains and often similar travel time for shorter distances. Both also have apps.

If you register with all of them and enable push alerts, they will alert you about offers, discount codes etc.

Depending on route, booking the train as far as possible in advance gets you cheaper tickets (some shorter routes have a set price so doesn't matter if you book in the day or a month before, the price is the same). Occasionally first class can be cheaper than second or only a few euros more, although second class is fine on SNCF anyway, so no major advantage.