Margaux Fodéré, edited by Romain Rouillard / Photo credits: MAGALI COHEN / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP 06:16, April 26, 2023

According to a survey by the association Action Réseau Climat, conducted with Harris Interactive, 6 out of 10 French people believe that train fares have increased over the last three years. An impression confirmed by INSEE figures that reveal a price increase of 7.5% between January 2022 and January 2023.

Taking the train is increasingly putting the wallet to work. According to INSEE figures, ticket prices rose by 7.5% between January 2022 and January 2023. An increase higher than headline inflation, estimated at 6.2% last March. A general increase in prices that explains, in part, that of rail fares.

Like many companies, SNCF's energy bill has risen sharply and is expected to almost triple in the space of a year. This year, the company has to deal with an additional cost of more than 1.5 billion euros. In January, SNCF has therefore decided to increase the prices of certain TGV and Intercités tickets, which are, on average, 5% more expensive, especially for professional customers.

Tolls on the rise

Selling prices could even continue to rise because the tolls that SNCF Réseau charges to SNCF Voyageurs, to use the railways, will increase next year. "SNCF Réseau costs will increase a lot. They have to buy raw materials: steel, ballast...", lists Patricia Pérennes consultant at Trans-Missions.

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These additional costs will therefore be reflected in tolls, which represent nearly 40% of the price of a TGV ticket. This increase in train fares is also explained by SNCF's pricing policy for long-distance trains. Since supply and demand determine prices, they increase when trains become scarcer, as during the strikes last December. However, the SNCF has committed to limit the increase to 5% this year for TGV tickets.