An Ouigo train. (Illustration) - ROMUALD MEIGNEUX / SIPA

"On the main lines, the rates are still considered opaque," said Thursday Benjamin Douriez, deputy editor of the magazine 60 million consumers .

"This opacity is a little consubstantial with" yield management "", the rate management system based on supply and demand long adopted by SNCF for main lines, he explained. The review tested the prices offered by the Oui.sncf site, on 35 2nd class journeys between major cities and in both directions, on ten different dates, five journeys during the week and five departures at the weekend (Friday evening (except Thursday May 7), between 15 days and 4 months in advance.

Anticipating your trip is not enough

In total, the study carried out on 8 and 9 January concerns the prices of 2,859 trains. Among the "yoyo" of the prices recorded, the most significant differences concern a journey between Paris and Aix-en-Provence, from 10 euros - for an Ouigo from Marne-la-Vallée - to 116 euros, the average being 47 euros during the week and 81 euros for a weekend departure.

Anticipating your purchase to benefit from the most advantageous rates "is not always enough", according to Benjamin Douriez. As of the opening of the reservation, almost all the tickets were sold at the maximum price for a departure on the evening of May 7, bridge watch on May 8. "We are at a high price when the traveler is most captive," he regretted. The prize went to the Paris-Lyon journey where the average price of a ticket was 71.32 euros, the maximum being 97 euros.

60 million consumers - who awarded the "golden cactus" to the SNCF in January for its delays, ATM closures and less and less advantageous cards - invite to "assess the constraints" of Ouigo. The service is cheaper but much less flexible. The review also denounces the maquis of reduction cards, which are no longer accepted on all regional trains.

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  • 60 million consumers
  • Rate
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  • SNCF
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  • Society
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