A non-stress SNCF seeks to relaunch its traffic passengers

The public group launches Monday, April 11, the first journey from Ouigo Train Classic train on the historic line between Paris and Nantes, departing from the Austerlitz station.

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Rose Flashy – to the point of provoking many quolibets among the active railways on social networks -, the new “Ouigo Train Classic” had to realize its inaugural trip, Monday, April 11, from the train station of Austerlitz, in Paris, Direction Nantes. This is the new weapon of the SNCF to attract travelers to the railway: a renovated traditional coral train, taking the classic pathways (not the TGV lines). The latter-born in the railway company runs through the longer trajects than “Ouigo High Speed”, but it offers fixed price, all regardless of the period of the year and even if you buy your ticket at last moment.

Experience modestly starts on two destinations – Paris-Lyon and Paris-Nantes – with ten trains a day, to compare to the 15,000 daily trains of the SNCF or more than 60 TGV Ouigo and Inoui that commute between Paris and Lyon in the day. For example returns, for example, to travelers, from Paris, 60 euros to Lyon on May weekends (more or less five hours each trip) or 40 euros to Nantes on a week (a little over four hours per Travel), and 5 euros for children.

Strong financial pressure

“Ouigo Classic Train” will not upset the fate of the SNCF, but the experimentation is emblematic of a desire to relaunch its traffic passengers. This strategy, which is part of the ambition of the rail public group to double the share of the train in the modes of travel in France (10% today to 20% in 2030), is far from a walk of health. It is even on a narrow ridge surrounding constraints: the upheaval of the mobility habits caused by the pandemic add the sting of the competition and a strong financial pressure: the obligation, by law, to generate a Positive cash flow throughout the SNCF group at the end of this year.

On the recovery of passenger activity, the company is confident. “The first quarter confirms the dynamics of trafficking, said Christophe Fanichet, PDF of SNCF traffickers, at a press conference, Friday, April 8th. Mobility Leisure and Occasional leaves strong, we returned almost normal on This slice. We sold 5 million bills to Easter, it is as much as before the Covid epidemic. “

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/Media reports.