A new bright red high-speed train is setting up on the rails of France. The Italian company Trenitalia is launching, on Saturday December 18, its Frecciarossa (red arrow), competitor of the TGV, on the Paris-Lyon line. It is the first operator to challenge the SNCF in the coveted high-speed market in France since the opening of this sector to competition in December 2020. Franceinfo answers the questions you have about this new rail player by France.
1What are the lines and timetables offered by Trenitalia in France?
Four cities in France are served by Trenitalia: Paris, Lyon, Chambéry and Modane (Savoie). These four stages are actually part of the international Paris-Milan line, which also serves Turin, Italy. Two round trips are planned each day. Concretely, Trenitalia will operate two Paris-Lyon every day, at 6:34 a.m. and 3:16 p.m., and two Lyon-Paris, at 11:28 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. The SNCF lines up, for its part, 22 classic TGVs and two Ouigo per day on the same route.
It’s only a beginning. The Italian offer should soon be expanded. “Our goal is to strengthen this offer with three additional round trips between Paris and Lyon”, assures the Managing Director of Trenitalia France, Roberto Rinaudo. This development is planned “as early as possible, normally in the first half of 2022”.
2What are the different classes offered in these Italian TGVs?
Trenitalia plays harda card of the Italian class to try to seduce French travelers. If its “red arrows” obviously have a standard class with wifi, a multimedia portal and a catering offer comparable to TGV, they also offer two upper classes.
The equivalent of the first class of the SNCF is called “Business” at Trenitalia with a large leather chair and a snack included in the price of the ticket. For the most demanding, an “Executive” class offers ten leather armchairs isolated per oar, very wide, reclining and swiveling. “For customers of this class, there is the entire catering offer available, which is ‘open bar'”, says Roberto Rinaudo.
3What are the prices (and conditions)?
“Our goal is to offer very good value for money”, assures the boss of Trenitalia France. The introductory prices are rather attractive, especially at the end of the year, when TGV tickets are soaring. The Italian company promises tickets from 23 euros in standard, 29 euros in “Business” and 139 euros in “Executive” on the Paris-Lyon line.
Still, the Italian company’s call prices could skyrocket during peak periods. Some single tickets in standard class already reach 59 euros as the holidays approach. Regarding the conditions of purchase, the tickets are exchangeable at will and refundable until the departure of the train, with a deduction of 20%.
4Will other competitors soon fill our stations?
If Trenitalia is the first operator to compete with SNCF on a French high-speed train line, it could quickly be joined by other competitors. The Railcoop cooperative, the start-up Midnight Trains and the Spanish company Renfe have announced their intention to challenge SNCF on French rails in the coming years.
Enough to create traffic jams on the rails and in the stations? “My mission is to welcome all carriers with fairness”, assured Marlène Dolveck, Managing Director of SNCF Gares & Connexions, which must make room to welcome new rail operators. The station manager must therefore find square meters in his buildings to accommodate counters, ticket vending machines, technical rooms and rest areas for employees. Signage must also be adapted.
5What is the reaction of the SNCF?
“Welcome to new operators”, launched Wednesday, December 15, in the Senate, the CEO of SNCF, Jean-Pierre Farandou. The company has all the same started the response to the arrival of a competitor on its most profitable line. A “Business” class was thus created with a snack included and advantageous trading conditions. SNCF tickets are also much more flexible thanks to its 22 round trips per day between Paris and Lyon.
The CEO of SNCF also announced that he intended to make 2022 “the year of customer service” so that the company becomes “impeccable”. It must be said that the end of the year 2021 is proving to be eventful. A strike notice from December 18 was thus lifted at the last minute, not without consequences for SNCF passengers.