Timetable since 3 November 2025: published first and last departures, a ferry every 20 min in between (intermediate times indicative) · Sailings shown by frequency — exact times from the operator. · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full timetable
Weekend last departures: two versions The crossing's page and Couëron town hall's website give 21:30 (Basse-Indre) and 21:20 (Indret) as the last ferries on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The département's timetable notice of 3 November 2025 says 20:50 and 21:00. The board follows the crossing's page; on weekend evenings, check it or call +33 2 40 86 01 29.
Peak hours From 07:00 to 09:00 and 17:00 to 19:00 the service is stepped up and the ferry shuttles continuously, so departures may not follow the 20-minute grid.
Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes Restricted access: an annual exemption from the Maison des bacs is required, with no crossings 07:00–09:30 or 16:30–19:30. While the département announces a reserve ferry, these vehicles are not allowed.
Stoppages and disruption Refuelling stops, drills, technical stoppages and reserve-ferry periods are listed under current and upcoming events on the crossing's page, and the Bacs de Loire app flags disruption.
Map – Basse-Indre–Indret Ferry
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Foot passenger or cyclist | Free |
| Car and driver | Free |
There is nothing to pay: on foot, by bike or by car the crossing is free and there are no tickets. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes need a one-year exemption from the Maison des bacs, which does not cover 07:00–09:30 or 16:30–19:30.
The Basse-Indre–Indret ferry is a free river ferry across the Loire, run for the Loire-Atlantique département by the Compagnie des bacs de Loire. There are no tickets and nothing to book: foot passengers, cyclists and drivers simply board. The département describes it as the busier of its two Loire ferry lines; the other links Couëron and Le Pellerin.
Since 3 November 2025 the timetable has had two patterns. Monday to Friday, the first ferry leaves Basse-Indre at 05:30 and Indret at 05:40, and the last ones go at 22:10 and 22:20. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the service starts at 06:30 and 06:40 and ends at 21:30 from Basse-Indre and 21:20 from Indret. In between there is a ferry every 20 minutes, and in the morning and evening rush (07:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00) it shuttles back and forth continuously. The one day without crossings is 1 May.
A word of caution for weekend evenings: the département's November 2025 timetable notice lists earlier last sailings at weekends (20:50 from Basse-Indre, 21:00 from Indret) than the crossing's own page. If you are counting on the last ferry on a Saturday or Sunday night, check the live page before you set off.
Any vehicle over 3.5 tonnes needs a one-year exemption from the Maison des bacs, the ferry service office on Quai Besnard in Basse-Indre (+33 2 40 86 01 29), and even then cannot cross 07:00–09:30 or 16:30–19:30. Refuelling stops, safety drills and reserve-ferry periods are posted under the events on the crossing's page on inforoutes.loire-atlantique.fr, which also shows a webcam on each side, refreshed every 10 seconds; the free Bacs de Loire app sends alerts.
The main ferries carry up to 300 people with 40 cars, or 300 people, 24 cars and one lorry. A bigger electric ferry, half of it running on hydrogen, with room for about 60 vehicles and more space for bikes, is planned for this line; the département's target is 2030–2031. The crossing time is not published.
- Be at the landing a few minutes before departure; vehicle boarding can close before the posted time.
- Check the operator's notices on the day — high river levels, wind, fog, works or maintenance can change or suspend crossings.
- Find out how you pay before you travel: some river ferries are free, others sell tickets on the quay, on board or online.