The railway company has just announced a price increase “at the level of inflation forecast for 2025”. An “increase necessary to finance investments”, argues management.
The ax has fallen. From this Wednesday, January 8, train ticket prices will increase by 1.5% for the year 2025, “i.e. less than 1 euro per ticket with an increase of 70 cents on average” announced Alain Krakovitch, director of TGV Intercités, this Tuesday. An increase, certainly, but lower than inflation, he welcomes, defending a “strong decision”while for 3 years, the SNCF has done the “choice to protect purchasing power” of its customers.
Concretely, this means that train ticket prices would increase to 47 euros on average. “This results in maximum price variations of between 1 euro and 7 euros”explained Alain Krakovitch, who points out that the increase of 7 euros would only concern travel “the longest”on the principle of yield on a basis “variable from one period to another”. Another development announced: that of the Junior & Cie offer, which will increase on average by 3 euros from tomorrow. And, from January 29, weekly and monthly high-speed line packages will be increased by 10% in first and second. Just like the monthly payments for TGV Max and TGV Max+ subscriptions which will be increased by 4% on average, for the more than 20,000 customers concerned.
What about international journeys? If the details of the increase in ticket prices for Eurostar, Lyria etc. were not communicated this Tuesday, the SNCF assured that “pricing policies will adapt according to countries and contexts”on a principle “comparable to that used for domestic journeys”.
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“First prices unchanged”
The one who represents the TGV Inoui, Ouigo and Intercités evokes a “increase necessary to finance investments”taking the example of the order for 115 TGV-M for 3.5 billion euros or the modernization of 104 trainsets. In addition, this increase should make it possible to “face the 3% increase in costs” what the company will suffer this year, with inflation, rising tolls and still high energy prices.
However, the SNCF denies “keep the train accessible” to the greatest number, with “first prices unchanged”. “Low prices, especially during the opening of sales, remain unchanged”maintains Alain Krakovitch. Likewise, Ouigo tickets will still be as attractive, with more than half of them sold for less than 30 euros, and classic Ouigo for less than 19 euros. Furthermore, the benefits of the Avantage card – owned by nearly 4 million customers – “will be maintained”specifies the SNCF, which retains its price “unchanged since 2021” at 49 euros as well as its reduction rates at -30% for adults and -60% for children.
Same thing for holders of the Liberté card, the price of which is set at 349 euros does not change, but who will be able to benefit from new services such as the possibility “particularly demanded” to switch to Ouigo at the last minute. “This is a real request from those who travel in Inoui. If they miss their train and the next one is an Ouigo, they must be able to take it”explains the director of TGV Intercités. Finally, the prices of Max youth and senior subscriptions are maintained at 79 euros, for the more than 90,000 subscribers concerned. Management specifies that the exchange and reimbursement conditions of TGV Inoui, Ouigo and Intercités will not be modified.
Proud to be part of a process “to get as many people on the trains as possible”the management of the SNCF wanted to point out that the railway company took responsibility for “half the increase” of its costs planned for 2025. Or 1.5% of the 3% increase. Knowing that the SNCF does not receive any subsidies on TGV tickets “fully paid by travelers”. In total, “more than 130 million people traveled on TGV in 2024”welcomed Alain Krakovitch, who prides himself on having beaten “the record average occupancy rate” SNCF trains over a year. And this, despite an average increase in their prices “of the order of 2% between 2023 and 2024”et “around 8% over the last 5 years”. More “still far from inflation”insists the executive, whose evolution is rather around 18% over the same period.
