The SNCF assures it: it has not increased its prices this year.

The tickets paid by travelers are even cheaper on average than in 2019, before the health crisis, but the firm could be forced to do so next year, CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou said on Tuesday.

He disputed data from Insee, for which rail transport prices increased by 12.7% in April over one year.

“We respect the figures from INSEE, of course, but the good year for comparison with 2022 is 2019” before the health crisis, he noted in front of journalists.

“And there, the average prices have objectively fallen by 7%!

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More travelers in 2022

“The comparison is made by INSEE between the trains of 2022 and the trains of 2021. In 2021, there were many fewer people on the trains and the proportion of reduced prices was higher, which lowered the average “, he explained.

“In fact, prices have not increased in the range.

But as this year, there are more people, there are more people who use slightly higher prices in the range, which leads to an increase in the average price observed, ”added the manager.

“There is always a policy of moderate prices.

(…) Our strategy is indeed a volume strategy with low prices so that the train is accessible to all”, the development of low-cost Ouigo links and the generalization of discount cards, he insisted.

Costs are rising

"I don't know if we will be able to maintain this policy of stabilized prices for much longer, because our costs are increasing", however warned Jean-Pierre Farandou.

"Energy costs are increasing, we may have wages that will increase, the price of materials is increasing, the cost of work is increasing, rail costs are increasing...", he noted.

“It is still too early to say whether beyond 2022 we will still be able to maintain this policy of very moderate prices over time.

We may be forced to pass on part of the costs from 2023, ”noted the boss of the SNCF.

“But we're not there yet, we'll see how things evolve!

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Company

Train ticket prices up 15% according to INSEE, SNCF denounces "false" figures

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