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Due to the drop in attendance linked to the coronavirus epidemic, the SNCF lost 42% of its travelers in 2020, announced the CEO of SNCF Voyageurs, Christophe Fanichet, this Friday, hoping to be able to reverse the trend in the summer next.

During containment in the spring, only 3,500 trains circulated each day, against 15,000 in normal times, "with on certain lines 1% of travelers" compared to normal, recalled Christophe Fanichet.

Absence of business customers

In detail, the 42% drop in passenger traffic is reflected in a 35% drop in TER, 45% in the Paris suburbs (Transilien) and 42% for main lines (TGV, Ouigo and Intercités, Thalys and Eurostar excluded), said a spokesperson.

The drop in frequentation of low-cost TGV Ouigo was limited to 20%, and it is only 10% on TGVs for those under 35, noted Christophe Fanichet, during a meeting with the Association of Transport and Mobility Journalists.

“Over the past five years, traffic has been steadily increasing by 2 to 3% per year,” he sighed.

SNCF has limited the damage to leisure travel, over long distances, "even if we have made great efforts on prices," noted the leader.

On the other hand, the business clientele, which provided 40% of TGV turnover, has evaporated.

The trend is not very bright for the start of 2021, with an occupancy rate of 45% of TGVs, of which three out of four have been running since the beginning of January.

A new application and a new price list

Reservations for mainline trains are down 70% for February and 80% for March, noted Christophe Fanichet.

If he thinks that the current period of constant adaptation to the evolutions of the pandemic will last until the end of the first half of the year, SNCF Voyageurs boss nevertheless hopes that 2021 will be "a year of reunion with the French".

"I have a key date, the pivot date, it is summer 2021", advances Christophe Fanichet who wants from this date to be able to "win back [his] customers".

It promises in December a single SNCF application and by “June or July” a new price list, “simpler, more accessible, more attractive”.

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