The French had only 48 hours to try to take advantage of the SNCF’s latest commercial gesture. Not a minute more, and not a minute less. This Tuesday January 7 and Wednesday January 8, 300,000 train tickets are on sale at a maximum price of 19 euros – and 5 euros for children. They concern Ouigo trains running between January 13 and March 31, to more than 60 destinations across France. And this flash sale entitled “Frozen Prices” concerns both short and long journeys.
However, some subtleties apply to these special tickets. Train reservations are required at least 10 minutes before train departure. And tickets are not refundable in any way, but exchangeable under conditions. What to delight the French? Absolutely not.
“No thanks, Ouigo is the guarantee of maximum hassle”
“We take tickets weeks in advance, and they cancel at the last minute… Not reliable at all, avoid”launches an angry Internet user on Facebook. “No thanks, Ouigo is the guarantee of maximum hassle”annoys another, without filter. “I took an Ouigo ticket for my children and me. They sent me a message the day before to warn me that we were going to travel standing”is also indignant a mother. Obviously, prices frozen at 19 euros are not enough for the French to make them want to get on a train again.
“It would be better to have the SNCF strike calendar to be able to book with peace of mind”suggests yet another Internet user. This is the main problem. If many people struggle to rebook a train trip in advance, it is because of fear of finding themselves with a ticket on their hands, not refunded, having to find a plan B for their trip. “We would like to take advantage of Ouigo prices, frozen or not: either they are late or deleted…” Complaints of the same kind have emerged by the dozen every minute on social networks since the announcement of the flash sale.“Even a free ticket, I don’t want it.” The French’s fed up seems to be at its peak.
“Ouigo, it’s January 7… Lille-Marseille on February 15: €75… not €19… Can you explain to me?” There are several who comment on the application. “Same, I was waiting today to take a Bordeaux-Paris at the end of January, and well, not frozen at all. The price of the trip I want has even increased compared to yesterday”assures a young woman. Indeed, if Ouigo announces 300,000 tickets at a maximum of 19 euros for 60 destinations, you have to read the fine print to understand that the offer does not affect all journeys. “A complete lie, the prices are much higher. Could this be false advertising by Ouigo?”proclaims an Internet user on X. “The Big Lie”adds another. “Several cities, notably Perpignan, are not affected by the offer, it is completely unfair”adds a young woman a little further away.
Wednesday January 8, at 10 a.m., on a Paris-Nice route, there were only six dates left for a 19 euro journey in the month of January. We were only offered seven in the entire month of February. So frozen prices, perhaps, but you still need to be able to board your train on Wednesday at 8:22 a.m., otherwise on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. On Facebook, many users express their dissatisfaction: “Following this offer, I looked at trains to visit my family. Amazing result: the usual prices were doubled! Looking forward to the bankruptcy of these French railway companies, you are a dead weight for the country”chants a young man, beside himself, on social networks. “To vomit”, “Thieves”, “Keep them your shit tickets”… That is what is said.
Constantly rising prices
This attractive offer comes in the midst of inflation. In 2023, train prices in France will increase by 10% on Ouigo-type services, and by 6% on TGVs. So, in turn, train ridership fell by 5% the same year. In 2025, prices continue to rise with an increase of 1.25% expected in SNCF ticket prices.
If the first-price tickets do not change (or only slightly), the maximum prices soar. For a Paris-Bordeaux in second class, the ceiling price today is 127 euros. It gained 3.25% in one year, and 14.41% in five years. For a Paris-Nice in first class, the ceiling price is 238 euros. An increase of 4.84% in one year, and 25% in five years. So faced with such increases, users sometimes prefer to opt for the car, if not carpooling.
