Night trains, Ouigo ... For Djebbari, "the future of SNCF is low prices"

Europe 1 5:04 p.m., September 24, 2021, amended at 5:07 p.m., September 24, 2021

INTERVIEW

SNCF announced on Thursday two new lines from Ouigo: Paris-Nantes and Paris-Lyon.

Slower trains, more than 4 hours for a Paris-Nantes, but at bargain prices between 10 and 30 euros.

Guest

this Friday, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Minister for Transport, explains the reasons for these new low-cost offers, which include the relaunch of night trains.  

Paris-Nice, "almost full all the time"

"The future is low prices and finding modes of travel that we had lost", announced the minister, citing in particular the example of the night train, removed a few years ago because considered too expensive and not busy enough. The government has decided to relaunch several lines including Paris-Nice last May with low prices between 19 and 39 euros. The minister hopes that around ten lines will be in service in France in 2030. 

"The Paris-Nice night train is almost full all the time, much more than when it was still running" he congratulated himself, speaking of a phenomenon which affects the whole of Europe, especially young people. .

"There is a phenomenon that has happened, especially among young people who, under societal and environmental pressure, once again preferred longer modes of transport. This is the reason why we are relaunching them", specifies Jean- Baptiste Djebbari.

Take the example of the Brussels-Vienna night train which was canceled 4 years ago because it was not filled enough.

It was relaunched a year and a half ago and is full all the time! " 

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A teleworking package 

Another novelty among SNCF's offers: a teleworking package, to benefit people who make the same trip a few days a week.

"There is a partial recovery in transport with around 15% less ridership. This is a phenomenon that is also observed in Europe with an intensity that has been exacerbated by the crisis. This essentially corresponds to people who have chosen to teleworker one or two days a week, "he explained. 

A first class wagon deleted for each train?

Another observation since the pandemic is that business customers travel less than before.

This is why the SNCF plans to do away with a first class car for each train.

"We anticipate that these business travelers will rather take the train less in the coming years. There is therefore an adjustment in the composition of the trains", explains Jean-Baptiste Djebbari.

And to conclude: "I am in favor of pragmatism. We temporarily have a first-class car less because we cannot fill it. Economically, that makes sense."