After the controversy, the seduction operation. In the autumn of 2022, the SNCF addressed on Twitter the PSG football club that favors the use of private planes for its trips, even short ones, while in fact there is a train privatization offer proposed by the SNCF.
The famous “sail tank” affair followed. “We spoke with the company that organizes our trips. We are seeing if we cannot travel on a sand yacht,” joked Christophe Galthier, the Parisian club’s coach.
If the PSG and the SNCF had started discussions to see to what extent the train could be used, nothing concrete had been successful.
Speed up short trips
A few months later, the SNCF returned to the charge but with the soft route. The operator thus organized a meeting with the leaders of numerous football (and rugby) clubs to present their specific offers, reveals RTL.
Therefore, the airline has modified and strengthened its offer to specifically target football clubs and sports federations in general, all through a new dedicated team. The idea is to offer custom.
“Our offers range from reserving a few seats on a train and reserved cars with particular service and security to a whole train that we can privatize for a club,” explains Alain Krakovitch, the head of TGV Intercités. Convincing? Some clubs are beginning to opt more and more for the train, such as FC Metz, indicates RTL.
An existing offer
However, there is, and for a long time, a specific TGV privatization offer proposed by the operator (special trains). However, its limitations are likely to be the same as those of the new tailor-made offer developed by the SNCF.
First is the issue of security. For big clubs like PSG and their stars, the prospect of having to cross all of Paris to get to a Parisian train station in the middle of the weekend is daunting. Then it would be necessary to mobilize the forces of order in addition to the security services of the SNCF.
The carrier has its own idea: send the most sensitive equipment from a station on the outskirts like Marne-la-Vallée. He also claims that his “security package” includes both surveillance on board the trains and at the station. Enough not to be overwhelmed by followers?
The problem of the night returns
In addition, the returns from the matches are usually very late (after midnight), hence the obligation to travel at night. Which is impossible, the SNCF taking advantage of the night to carry out work on its network.
Here again, the public company ensures that connections can be offered “case by case”, from the moment they are foreseen. He also explains that he will try as far as possible to offer clubs dedicated solutions from the beginning, without waiting for them to request them.
See you next season to see if this seduction operation has paid off.
Source: BFM TV
