SNCF, Renfe, Trenitalia: which railway company is the most advantageous?

There is the historic SNCF, but more recently, the Italian Trenitalia and the Spanish Renfe. While the French company opened the sale of tickets for the spring holidays and for the May bridges this Wednesday, it is an opportunity to compare with the competition.

Let’s first look at the prices for example for a Paris-Lyon. The difference is enormous: 113 euros per person for the French company, compared to only 39 euros for its Italian competitor. Let’s then compare a Lyon-Montpellier: the difference is minimal, with 39 euros for the SNCF and 37 euros for the Spanish train.

Prices can therefore vary greatly. And this did not escape the users interviewed by the 13H teams in the report at the top of this article: “If it’s half price like that, there’s no photo” ; “There is both an attractive price aspect, because they are not yet very well known. I think they need to fill their train” ; “We will see over time if it is interesting compared to the SNCF. But in any case, it is good to have the choice”.

Foreign companies often choose to develop three different comfort classes.

Béatrice Jarrige, railway expert

Another comparison, what about comfort? Here again, our teams carried out the test. Above all, there are a lot of similarities between the platforms, footrests, legroom. But also some differences: larger toilets in Italian and Spanish companies but more space for luggage at SNCF.

And last detail, and not the least, the train is not full. “You see, the train is not very full, so that’s nice too”; “In the end, we often have space, so it’s not bad”appreciate customers.

• Read also

  Present your ticket and your identity card at the same time: the SNCF is testing a new functionality

SNCF’s competitors also rely on very different price and comfort ranges, as rail expert Béatrice Jarrige points out: “Foreign companies often choose to develop three different comfort classes. Where in France, we only have two, or even just one when we make Ouigo train configurations.”

Last point of vigilance in the event of cancellation of a standard ticket. The reimbursement is total to the SNCF. If you book a week in advance with TrenItalia, you will have to pay fees and with the Spanish Renfe it is impossible to get a refund.