Voyages SNCF intends to play an active part in reducing the rail group's emissions by 50 % by 2030, the target set by SNCF CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou. To this end, it is launching Planète Voyages, a ecological mobility project based first and foremost on raising the awareness and training of flight attendants and staff: drivers, controllers, bar staff and cleaning staff, etc.". Employees must take responsible action in the course of their work" says Alain Karkovitch, CEO of Voyages SNCF.
In addition to the use of hydrogen, battery or hybrid trains As far as the TER is concerned, sustainable actions will be stepped up on the main lines. Whether in terms of recycling, waste sorting, but also ofeco-driving - to save at least 10 % of electricity over a journey - and ecostationing in stations, to save 7 % of energy. " On the Paris-Lyon line, a driver can drive 100 km without consuming energy by using the gradients" adds Alain Karkovitch.
Expected in 2024, the future TGV M, presented as an "eco TGV", will be an important milestone in this project thanks to its aerodynamic design, lighter weight, technological advantages in terms of eco-driving and its ability to be recycled at 97 %. More connected, more comfortable and with greater capacity (with 740 seats, i.e. 20 % more than the TGV Duplex), this TGV will generate an improved carbon footprint of 32 % compared with current trains.
Raising customer awareness of the ecological benefits of rail travel
The second aspect of Planète Voyages concerns customers, whom the Group intends to encourage to prefer the train in order to accelerate the ecological transition. Raising awareness involves major communication campaign on INOUI, OUIGO and Intercités trains and an ambassador of choice in the person of the famous yachtsman François Gabart, winner of the Vendée Globe, the Transat and the solo round-the-world record. " I intend to take advantage of the innovations arising from my profession to propose sustainable transport solutions for tomorrow." he says. He adds: " it's a challenge to change the way we move around the planet in an environmentally friendly way. "
Faced with a 40 % drop in passenger traffic in 2020 due to Covid-19, the SNCF is also counting on Planète Voyages to bounce back, by playing the green mobility card, particularly with younger generations very committed to environmental issues. " The French need to know that a train journey emits 50 times less CO2 than a car journey and 80 times less than a plane journey." insists Christophe Fanichet, CEO of SNCF Voyageurs.
This focus on green mobility is also a way of attracting companies and to address their environmental concerns in their annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, in which they present their societal, social and environmental performance. " We carry out studies with companies to define their post-crisis travel behaviour." says Christophe Fanichet. The ecological dimension is very important for key accounts that we are helping to meet their commitments as part of their CSR policy. The outlook for the future is positive, and in favour of rail." . At least for journeys of less than three hours, with air travel gaining the upper hand after that...
The next expected step is the release in February, by e.Voyageurs SNCF, of a barometer by line in order to help customers - including business travellers - to choose more environmentally-friendly mobility, in this case by train. In the meantime, before the summer, the presentation of a new price listonce again announced as " simpler and clearer" .
