SNCF announced Thursday that it would reduce the pace on TGVs from Monday, March 29, partial containment measures in part of the country having further reduced attendance.
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The SNCF intends in particular to circulate 6 TGV out of 10 on the South-East axis and 5 to 6 TGV out of 10 on the Atlantic, with a reinforcement on weekends and school holidays, according to a press release.
On the North axis - fully affected by the reinforced health measures -, the company will reduce its offer to 3 TGVs out of 10. The Paris-Lille connections will be a little more frequent with 4 TGVs out of 10. The offer will be from 4 to 5 TGV out of 10 on the east axis, and 4 Ouigo out of 10.
“
This is an average per axis, and the offer is adapted on a case-by-case basis for each destination depending on the existence of reinforced health measures in the departments on departure or arrival, as well as the 'observation of passenger demand
,' noted the SNCF in its press release.
The TGVs maintained are "
the most suitable in terms of schedules
", guaranteed the public company.
Since the start of the year, SNCF has been running one in three TGVs on average, with a drop in attendance of around 50% compared to normal.
But demand fell further with the announcement of new health measures and reservations in April were down 65% compared to 2019. The Intercités transport plan remains unchanged, with 6 out of 10 trains.
As for night trains, the service from the South-West to Toulouse is suspended, the Paris-Briançon is still provided on weekdays (via Modane and a bus connection).
In the region, the supply of TER will be reduced to 72% of normal in Hauts-de-France, also specified the SNCF.
As for international connections, Eurostar keeps one Paris-London return trip per day, as well as one Amsterdam-Brussels-Lille-London.
SNCF plans 4 return trips per day Paris-Brussels (including one Paris-Amsterdam and one Paris-Dortmund), 8 return trips to Germany, 6 to Switzerland, 2 to Italy and 2 to Spain .
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To travel, travelers must have their transport ticket and their exceptional travel certificate in the departments or situations where it is required.
All main line tickets - TGV Inoui, Ouigo and Intercités, TER in correspondence - are exchangeable and refundable free of charge until the last moment until April 18.