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Christmas holidays: SNCF ensures the circulation of "100% of trains"

2020-11-25T22:48:23.242Z


Slowly at the moment, the railway company is preparing to run its trains normally for the holiday season. And pro


SNCF is on the verge of war.

"We are all on the bridge so that 100% of the trains traditionally planned for the Christmas holidays can run from mid-December, probably December 14 or 15, assures Christophe Fanichet, the boss of SNCF Voyageurs.

There is even excitement in our 35 technicentres, where the 12,000 employees dedicated to train maintenance work relentlessly.

»600 TGV, including the Ouigo, but also 80 Intercités, as well as 8,200 TER and 6,200 Transiliens, could thus circulate on the national network in order to allow the French, tired by several weeks of confinement, to go skiing or join their families.

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To encourage them, SNCF has decided to increase the “low price” offers by 15%.

One in three tickets, or 1.5 million of the 4.5 million sold during this period, thus benefits from a substantial reduction for all journeys made during school holidays.

“A Paris-Bordeaux is now offered at 33 euros for December 24, resumes Christophe Fanichet, against around fifty euros usually.

That is a reduction of between 40 and 50%.

"

Trains disinfected every day

Important note: all tickets continue to be fully exchangeable or refundable, without any justification, including on TGV Ouigo, which traditionally do not offer this possibility.

This system will be maintained at least until January 4, in order to "allow the French to travel during this period in all serenity".

According to our information, the SNCF is already studying the possibility of extending it further, in one form or another.

Will these offers be enough to make the French want to get back on the train?

The Christmas holidays represent one of the main peaks in annual traffic, with the traditional July 14, August 1 and 15.

But the reservation rate remains modest for the moment.

“We are at -55% of reservations compared to last year at the same period, observes a spokesperson for the SNCF.

Once again, the French prefer to wait for new presidential and government announcements before making a decision.

"

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Christophe Fanichet nevertheless wants to be optimistic.

"Remember this summer," continues the boss of SNCF Voyageurs.

We expected less than 70% of the usual number of travelers during this period, we had more than 85%.

I think we will have a similar enthusiasm for these holidays.

On the condition of course that sanitary conditions allow it, and depending on certain decisions, such as the reopening or not of winter sports resorts.

"

SNCF plans to keep the health protocol in effect since last spring.

Wearing a mask remains compulsory in stations and on trains.

And they continue to be disinfected from top to bottom every day.

Source: leparis

All business articles on 2020-11-25

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