In early April, the French Rail Association (Afra) advocated for its member companies (Trenitalia, Renfe, Le Train, Transdev, Proxima/Velvet, etc.) to be sold on SNCF Connect in order to increase their visibility and sales. A bold request made in anticipation of the framework bill for modernisation, development and financing of transport, which will be debated in the Senate from next week. Rejected by SNCF Voyageurs, which has no intention of doing its current and future competitors any favours as they position themselves on its most profitable routes, this proposal is also not to the liking of Trainline, its challenger in terms of train (and bus) ticket sales in France and Europe.
The platform wishes to « an open distribution for the benefit of travellers » and aims to be the spokesperson for ADN Mobilités, which has several independent distributors such as Kombo, Omio and Blablacar. « We are against it. The obligation that could be given to SNCF Connect via this framework law is not the only solution for these companies to increase their visibility. », assures Alexander Ernert, the General Manager for France at Trainline, who does not want legislative interference. in a new market that is developing thanks to the opening up to competition ".
New companies, new distributors
Le sujet est crucial, voire une question de survie pour certains de ces acteurs. Une ouverture de SNCF Connect aux compagnies alternatives mettrait en péril leur modèle économique en augmentant encore davantage le poids du site de la SNCF, qui s’élève déjà à 85% sur la vente de billets de train en général et à 93% pour les billets longue distance en particulier, avec le TGV en tête de gondole.
SNCF Connect thus exceeds 1.5 billion visits per year, leaving little room, for now, for its competitors. And Alexander Ernert points out in particular " The importance of SNCF discount cards, such as Carte Avantage, which makes travellers captive to SNCF Connect. This already near-monopoly situation could however evolve with the arrival of Velvet in 2028 and Le Train in 2029. If these projects come to fruition… Trenitalia's commercialisation has already allowed Trainline to significantly increase its sales in France, with a boost effect thanks to the launch of the Paris-Marseille Frecciarossa routes since June 2025.
Travellers have begun to compare
To justify its opposition to Afra's claim, Trainline highlights the results of a study carried out by the firm Charles River Associates among some 900 rail travellers in France. This study reveals that "67% start with an online search", that "51% already use platforms to compare prices or journeys", and that "76% of users [surveyed] already know alternative ways to buy their tickets".
" Many travellers use Trainline as a comparison tool but end up booking directly on the companies' websites. », regrets Alexander Ernert. And he insists: « SNCF Connect is not the one-stop shop for buying train tickets in France. The advantage of independent distributors lies in finding better fares, carrying out cross-border journeys and aggregating other modes of transport such as coaches or carsharing. ".
Spain's example to justify the status quo
The second argument for Trainline lies in the example of neighbouring countries such as Spain, Austria, and even Great Britain, where there is significant rail competition. Independent distributors have found their niche in Spain thanks to the multiplicity of offerings from Iryo, Ouigo, and Renfe, which also operates a low-cost brand alongside it with Avlo. The comparison allows travellers to find the best prices, which have fallen thanks to competition between the operators. On the distributors' side, competition is also a guarantee of innovation thanks to the constant development of digital tools. », believes the Trainline CEO.
Ultimately, Trainline, speaking for ADN Mobilités, believes it is too soon to make a definitive judgment on the matter, as distributors are expanding across France. This is happening even though the European Commission has made rail transport one of its priorities, particularly with the intended rollout of a European high-speed network. The other challenge for the association remains improving the commercial relationship with SNCF, which grants a minimal commission for each ticket sold, especially for Ouigo.
