Good news for travelers and good news for the planet. The arrival, admittedly still very timid, of competition in high-speed trains has had the effect of increasing the share of trains in French travel. And lower prices.
According to a Trainline study, all operators experienced an increase in ticket sales between the end of December and the end of August: +18% for TGV, +57% for OUIGO and above all +176% for Trenitalia, the main competitor of SNCF. on the Paris-Lyon-Milan high-speed line.
Trainline thus notes a total average increase of 58% on the Paris-Lyon line, “which shows that everyone is a winner in a competitive market”.
As for fares, the ticket purchase platform indicates that the average price of a Paris-Lyon route, all combined trains (TGV, OUIGO, Frecciarossa/Trenitalia) has gone from an average of 45 euros to 42 euros since the opening in competition, a decrease of about 7%.
An identified but timid competition
In a study by OpinionWay, it seems that the competition is now clearly identified. Thus, Trenitalia is known by 40% of French people, followed by Transdev with 38% and Railcoop with 14%. In total, 54% of those surveyed know at least one of the players who have positioned themselves as contenders for the SNCF since the competition opened in 2021. And two-thirds know the terms and conditions (trains in question, what type of lines…).
Furthermore, 34% of the French, but especially 64% of 18-24 year olds, believe that the end of the SNCF monopoly is an incentive to take the train. Blessed bread for the SNCF in particular, which hopes to double the number of travelers within a few years.
Competition: “France lags behind”, according to the regulator
Therefore, the national company intends to reinforce its offer with, in particular, the development of night trains, the start-up of cross-border lines, the relaunch of some small lines and the forthcoming renovation of its TGVs. Convinced that this trend will continue. For its part, Trenitalia wants to gain traction in France, Spain’s Renfe should be launched as more local players like LeTrain show big ambitions even if the funding is not completed.
But if the SNCF willingly recognizes that the competition makes the cake bigger, it also defends its pre-square tooth and nail and would put spokes in the wheels of certain players who want to start. What holds back competition in the French market believe some experts.
Because finally, to date, only Trenitalia has been launched in France at the national level. In the TERs, if there are many calls for bids have taken place or are ongoingwe will have to wait a few more years to see SNCF’s competitors on the rails.
A situation that does not please Bernard Román, president of the Transport Regulatory Authority (ART). “Openness was a reality in some countries 30 years ago, in the 1990s. […] We are one of the last to open. We are quite behind, ”she laments.
The offer but also the ecological dimension
If the arrival of new players is a lever, it is also the ecological dimension of the train that acts as a catalyst. Hence the appearance of “show off by train” and “slow travel”.
Thus, also according to the Trainline study, 59% of French people say they are aware of the ecological impact of their mode of transport when choosing it. 90% of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 include this criterion in their choice when deciding on their means of transport.
“Paradoxical in their relationship with the environment, but lucid in this sense, the French want to see in opening up to competition a way to break with their dependence on the car. Consequently, this evolution is for most of them a good thing.” news for the fight against climate change (68%)” we can read.
Source: BFM TV
