Traveling on the "Tire-Bouchon": The Summer Train from Auray to Quiberon
The Tire-Bouchon is the symbol of vacations in Southern Brittany! This TER train on the BreizhGo line connects Auray Station to the Quiberon Peninsula during the summer season.
Why is the train called the “Tire-Bouchon”?
The name of this legendary train comes directly from its primary purpose: reducing traffic jams. The Tire-Bouchon lets you bypass them by offering an eco-friendly, fast, and stress-free transportation alternative. It’s the ideal solution for saving time and avoiding parking hassles at your destination!
2026 Schedule and Operating Period
The Tire-Bouchon operates nearly 1,300 trips per season, with up to 10 round trips per day during the height of summer.
For the 2026 season, the train runs from June 13 to September 13:
- in June: the weekends of June 13–14, 20–21, and 27–28
- in July and August: daily, from June 29 through August 31
- in September: the weekends of September 5–6 and 12–13
Did you know? A direct round-trip service is also offered every Sunday in July and August departing from Rennes Station, allowing city dwellers to spend a day at the beach without a car.
Information and schedules
Visit www.ter.sncf.com or download the 2026 schedules.
TER: Toll-free number 0 800 880 562—Free service and calls Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays and holidays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Stations and stops served by the Tire-Bouchon
The Tire-Bouchon is a commuter train that serves 9 stations and stops:
- Auray (TGV/national TER connections)
- Belz - Ploëmel
- Plouharnel - Carnac
- Sables Blancs Penthièvre
- Penthièvre Isthmus
- Kerhostin
- Saint-Pierre Quiberon
- Quiberon (Terminus 50 meters from the bus station and connections to the ferry terminals)
2026 Fares and Ticket Purchases
To ensure a smooth boarding process, tickets are available for purchase online only (except for last-minute purchases on board, which are subject to a surcharge)
- One-Way Ticket: €5
- Youth Fare (under 26): €4
- Children (under 12): Free (free ticket must be picked up at the station; the child must be accompanied by a paying adult)
- Book of 10 tickets: 30 €
- Ticket sold on board: 6 € (Subject to availability; credit card payments not accepted).
- Day Pass: €12
- Season Pass: €150
- Pet Surcharge: €7 per trip
Bringing Your Bike Aboard the Tire-Bouchon
To ensure passenger comfort and safety, bicycle access is strictly regulated.
Reservation required
Bringing a bicycle, folding bike, or trailer on board requires a reservation, which costs 1 €. Without this reservation, you will be denied boarding.
Conditions
Panniers must be removed and trailers must be folded before boarding.
Prohibitions
Cargo bikes, tandems, tricycles, and three-wheeled vehicles are strictly prohibited on board.
Ecotourism: A Greener Train Powered by B100 Rapeseed Biofuel
In addition to reducing traffic on the peninsula, the Tire-Bouchon is helping the planet. To move toward a carbon-free future, the Brittany Region and the SNCF have chosen this iconic summer line as a regional test bed for phasing out diesel.
The train now runs entirely on B100, a 100% plant-based biofuel derived from the Oleo100 formula.
Its benefits for Quiberon Bay
- Massive reduction in CO₂: Using this rapeseed oil-based fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 60% compared to conventional diesel
- Preserved air quality: it also reduces fine particulate emissions by up to 80%, a critical factor in protecting the region’s sensitive and protected ecosystem
- A French and renewable supply chain: the rapeseed used is grown and processed in France, providing local energy without requiring major changes to infrastructure
In addition: The BreizhGo 601 bus route
Outside the Tire-Bouchon’s operating period, or to complement your early morning and late evening trips, the BreizhGo 601 bus line takes over the rest of the year between Auray and Quiberon. It ensures daily connectivity throughout the region and offers an efficient multimodal solution.
A Preserved and Forward-Looking Railway Heritage
Inaugurated in the late 19th century for economic (shipping fish products) and military reasons, the Auray-Quiberon line nearly disappeared in the face of the rise of the automobile. It owes its survival to the creation of the “Tire-Bouchon” scheduled service in the 1980s.
Today, its popularity is growing. Ridership is steadily increasing, now reaching between 150,000 and 173,000 passengers per season. To ensure the long-term future of this historic line, which runs through a sensitive natural area, major track modernization and safety improvement projects led by SNCF Réseau are scheduled to guarantee that the “vacation train” continues to run smoothly for decades to come.