Almost a year ago, Trenitalia inaugurated its first high-speed link between Paris and Milan via Lyon. It was the first time that a competitor of the SNCF operator faced the national company on its ground thanks to the opening to competition desired by Europe.
A year later, the SNCF still has no additional opponents, but the benefits of this start to competition are already tangible. And everyone is a winner.
According to figures* from the Trainline booking platform, the first gain is in the size of the market. More actors means more travelers for a greener mode of transport, and this, for all the actors present.
172% more tickets booked in Paris-Lyon in one year
The platform thus notes a 172% increase in tickets booked on the Paris-Lyon link, including +42% for TGV and +90% for Ouigo, proof that the loss of the SNCF monopoly does not mean a loss of customers . And +291% of tickets booked on the Paris-Milan route, which mechanically benefits Trenitalia.
But it is above all at the price level where the benefit is most palpable. Trainline has compared the prices of tickets sold in Paris-Lyon and Paris-Milan (return) between September 4 and December 3, 2022, with the same period of 2021 and 2019 (for a standard adult including the Advantage and Liberté cards and excluding the TGV Max package).
Paris-Lyon fares are thus down 8% compared to last year (46 euros in 2021 to 42 euros in 2022) and above all 40% compared to 2019 (pre-covid).
A competition that struggles to stand out
Specifically, the Italian company is cheaper on average than the French public company with 40 euros for a Paris-Lyon versus 57 euros for TGV.
While, at the same time, on the lines without competition, “prices have increased if we compare the last quarter of 2022 with the same period of 2021,” says Trainline. Examples with Paris-Bordeaux (+6%), Paris-Montpellier (+8%), Paris-Lille (+14%), Trainline notes.
It remains today to definitively develop this competition, which is already very effervescent in Spain and Italy but continues to starve in France on high-speed lines. It seems that entering the French market is very difficult for local players and even for national operators.
*: Tickets sold on Trainline on the high-speed routes Paris-Lyon and Paris-Milan (round-trip) between September 4 and December 3, 2022, compared to the same period in 2021 – all fares, ages or classes (incl. Advantage, Liberté, Ski pass, TGV Max cards).
Source: BFM TV
