Who says lifting of travel restrictions says resumption, almost to normal, of rail traffic.
SNCF will strengthen its service to support deconfinement from May 3, and offer an almost normal service at Ascension and Pentecost, SNCF Voyageurs CEO Christophe Fanichet said on Monday.
“Today, you have about four out of ten TGVs running, reduced mobility obliges, […] one in two Intercités and then eight out of ten TER.
From May 3, we are raising this transport offer so that the French can travel, ”he explained on Europe 1. The SNCF will run more trains during the weekends, eight (TGV) out of ten on May 7 and “practically all” during the May Bridges, Ascension and Pentecost, he added.
More than ever, we all want to escape.
As soon as we can soon go out again, meet up, get some fresh air and travel, we make a commitment: there will always be a @SNCF train to count on.
#DesQuOnPourra pic.twitter.com/qS8shiB9bN
- Christophe Fanichet (@CFanichet) April 26, 2021
Reservations are already open, as well as for the summer holidays in July and August, said Christophe Fanichet.
The SNCF had effectively opened the sales of its tickets, until August 29, March 30.
Soon a package for teleworkers
The SNCF must also unveil a new more readable pricing, "with offers more than canon and with low prices" on June 1, said Christophe Fanichet.
At the same time, it will give up overbooking and extend low-cost TGV services to Ouigo, particularly in Brittany.
Management will also offer offers to teleworkers, he said.
"The French want to move," summed up the CEO of SNCF Voyageurs, noting that the pace of reservations was "gradually" resuming. "We will accompany this desire for the train," he stressed. The company launched an advertising campaign on Monday before deconfinement, with for the moment 10-second spots broadcast on social networks calling for the simple pleasures of the holidays, on the theme "As soon as we can".
