Still haven’t been able to find train tickets for Christmas or New Year? No wonder: like every end of year, the trains are expected to be crowded. “We have 4 million reservations for these holidays, with a train occupancy rate of between 80 and 90%,” said SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou this Tuesday on France Info. A million travelers are expected on the rails for the weekend of December 22 to 24, a higher figure than last year. “This shows that there is a very strong enthusiasm among the French, who are massively choosing the train,” underlines the manager.
The year 2023, which had started rather badly for the SNCF – the company had recorded nearly 400 million losses in turnover between January and March due to strike movements linked to pensions – should therefore end on a high note. Especially since this time, the unions have agreed not to walk out at Christmas. “The SNCF management worked well during this annual negotiation, we agreed to salary increases for next year, which is normal, because inflation is there,” he added. “For 3 years, we have supported the increase in the cost of living for railway workers, this successful negotiation explains that the social climate has relaxed as the holidays approach,” comments the CEO of the railway company.
However, for users of mainline trains, the celebration could well be short-lived. Jean-Pierre Farandou has indeed confirmed an increase in TGV Inouï prices for next year. “It will increase a little, because we have to, we have capacity problems which require the purchase of new trains,” defended the manager. The company’s costs are expected to increase by 6% in 2024, notably due to the increase in rail tolls. The boss of the SNCF promises, however, that the company will not “pass on all these costs” to customers and that the increase in TGV tickets “will not be greater than inflation”. Users will also be able to refer to the Intercités and Ouigo offer, whose prices will be frozen for the coming year, or obtain an Avantage card, for which the price caps will not increase in 2024, as noted above. promised Transport Minister Clément Beaune.
