As the company prepares to transport athletes and spectators to the Olympics, many trains are not yet full.
Sales had started off strong. On March 13, when SNCF opened its summer train ticket sales, 1.5 million seats had been sold in one day. But as the summer holidays approach, the trains are still far from full. Two out of three seats have not been taken for the summer period on the TGV and Intercités, or 12 million tickets still available, indicated Alain Krakovitch, director of TGV and Intercités, on France Bleu at the end of June.
“We feel that there was great anticipation”believes the SNCF executive, who nevertheless advances that “People think that everything is full”. Are the prices too high? “The more in advance you buy, the cheaper it is”recognizes Alain Krakovitch, emphasizing however that “If you go in August and buy them now, you will get them at good prices”.
400,000 additional TGV seats
SNCF had planned generously this year, to keep up with the increase in traffic observed since the pandemic, with 400,000 more TGV seats compared to summer 2023. Could rail be suffering from the drop in tourism that Air France is seeing in the run-up to the Olympic Games? The airline expects a drop in revenue this summer due to a “avoidance” from the capital, especially by foreigners, and a drop in bookings on domestic flights. “These are normal numbers”reassures the SNCF to Le Figaro, ensuring that it has sold “in the same proportions as last year” at the beginning of the summer period.
The railway company will be one of the official transporters of the Olympic Games, recalls Alain Krakovitch, and will transport “more than 80 football teams by TGV”Train traffic has also been adapted to the events. “For example, for Lille, we will adapt our timetables so that the TGVs return after the matches.” basketball. Enough to hope to fill up.
