Aurélien Fleurot, edited by Solène Delinger 07:48 a.m., December 09, 2021, modified at 07:48 a.m., December 09, 2021

Two weeks before the Christmas holidays, reservations are multiplying at the SNCF.

More than 3.2 million travelers have already purchased their train tickets.

It's much better than in 2018, the last year where the comparison makes sense, since 2019 and 2020 were marked by the strike, then the health crisis.

How to explain this craze for the train?

DECRYPTION

The train, the new favorite means of transport of the French?

They are in any case numerous to plebiscite it.

On the eve of the end of the year celebrations, 3.2 million people have already booked their train tickets via SNCF.

This is much more than in 2018, the last year where the comparison makes sense, since 2019 was marked by strikes against pension reform.

And in 2020, we were obviously in the midst of a curfew and health restrictions. 

No peak attendance this year

This year, there will not be a particularly busy day at the stations.

It will be spread out over the two weeks, with trains already almost full to the traditionally most sought-after destinations: to Brittany, the south-east or even the mountains.

Guest of Sonia Mabrouk on Europe 1 yesterday morning, the Minister of Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, confirmed the increase in bookings for the holidays this year and let it be known that the SNCF was fully "mobilized". 

>> Find the morning show of the day in replay and podcast here

"We have French people who have booked a lot, it is 50% more than last year, or 3 million travelers. They have booked more and more upstream," he said.

"The SNCF is fully mobilized, there will be as many trains as possible and a certain number are already full," continued the Minister for Transport.

"We will make sure with the SNCF to be there for this beautiful moment of conviviality."

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 Christmas holidays: "50% more reservations than last year" for trains

The advantage card attracted two million people

A craze for the train which can in part be explained by the success of the new SNCF loyalty card, the advantage card.

Despite criticism from some customers about the restrictions on accessing low prices and some discounts, this offer has already attracted two million people.

The number of cards sold has doubled since the launch last June, from 4,000 to 8,000 per day.

And among its buyers, three-quarters are new subscribers who did not have a card until then.

Successful bet, therefore, for the SNCF.