If the SNCF is delighted with a strong return of the train with record sales in particular this summer, a strategic audience is missing: professionals. The spread of teleworking has left its mark with more virtual meetings.
Despite everything, the operator intends to adapt its offers to these very profitable customers and also take advantage of an increasingly pronounced rejection of air travel, especially among the youngest.
According to the carrier, more and more companies are prohibiting the plane if the train is an alternative for trips of up to 3 or even 4 hours, two hours more than the limit imposed by the climate law.
In addition to its fare offer as such for professional travel (in particular through the Business Première offer or the telecommuting package), the SNCF is also considering a “functional train”, a formula that companies could offer their employees in 2024 instead of a company car.
2.8 million company cars
This idea would make it possible to “respond to the challenges of sustainable development, while providing advantages comparable to those of the company car,” said the director of TGV-Intercités, Alain Krakovitch.
“It still remains to be built,” he told AFP. It is considering “an end-to-end offer” that would allow, “probably within the framework of mobility credits”, to combine public transport – obviously the train –, “soft mobility” and car rental.
“Today there are many individual company cars in France, 2.8 million,” he explained. “This continues to be the main mobility advantage that companies offer their employees.”
“I find it interesting to think of an alternative that we can offer to companies that would like to be able to offer their senior managers other solutions that better respond to the growing aspirations of more eco-responsible mobility,” he says.-adds .
Young executives who have less and less license
“I think the young recruits will be sensitive. More generally, discussions with key accounts show that executives don’t necessarily have a license, find the company car impractical, or aren’t always comfortable” with the idea of have a professional vehicle. , even hybrid or electric, she remarked.
The TGV-Intercités marketing department is working on it with client companies and specialists in “BtoH” (exchanges between employers and employees, such as Ticket Restaurant), he noted, and foresees a gradual launch from 2024.
Alain Krakovitch discussed this initiative on Tuesday night during the presentation of the “grands prix de l’écomobilité”, rewarding the companies and travel agencies that have a contract with the SNCF that have the most virtuous travel policies.
The winners were: Caisse des Dépôts, QEnergy, Crédit Mutuel, JCDecaux, BCD Travel and Somfy.
Source: BFM TV
