While the SNCF has been on intermittent strike by trade unions since 3 April in opposition to the company's reform, Trainline has just unveiled a study on "the French and the opening up to rail competition". The survey was carried out on 30 May and 1 June by OpinionWay on behalf of Trainline, the European train ticket sales website, among a sample of 1,068 people aged 18 and over in France. The survey revealed that two-thirds of French people use the train, and that 82% consider this means of transport to be attractive despite occasional inconveniences such as delays and breakdowns.
49% of Pro customers think that train travel has deteriorated
It then shows that 17% of those surveyed take the train for business reasons. However, if we consider only passengers aged 35-49, the proportion of work-related journeys rises to 29% for this generation. In the course of their work, they are thus 38% to take the TGV frequently37% the TER, 40% the Intercités and 45% the Transilien network in Ile-de-France. These Pro customers consider that the train is faster (35%), more practical and more environmentally friendly (26%), and even safer (22%) than other modes of transport. The fact that travelling by train is often cheaper only comes fifth, at 18%, probably because the tickets are paid for by the company. On the other hand, almost half of the business travellers questioned believe that rail travel has become worse in recent years.
Ignorance of the opening up of TGV and TER services to competition
The opening up of rail services to competition in France - by the end of December 2019 at the latest for the TER and in December 2020 for the TGV (with entry into service in 2021) - is still not well known among business travellers. 43% say they are aware of this for the TGV and only 32% for the TER. Once these regulatory elements have been presented, however, 73% consider this entry into competition to be very positive, which is more than the French as a whole (68%). The precedent of opening up competition in telecoms, and even energy, may have had a positive influence on their opinion.
There too, better ticket prices is not the primary expectation of the Pro passenger, coming in behind the services offered on board (at 65%), but on a par with train punctuality (62%). This is followed by the quality of the welcome in the trains, the frequency of trains, passenger information in the event of disruption to services, the quality of the welcome in stations, the comfort of the trains and the ease of booking tickets.
8 out of 10 French people in favour of a single website for booking train tickets
It is on this last point that Trainline, the challenger to OUI.sncf, intends to make its move, since 79% of those surveyed, and 84% of business travellers, would like to have access toa single, independent ticket booking site. To be successful in attracting these passengers, it will have to respond to their concerns by providing, on a website or an application, the best prices, the ideal timetable, details of the operators operating on each route and the quickest route. " Trainline is delighted that more French people will be taking the train tomorrow and that rail's share of the transport market will increase." said Audrey Détrie, Trainline's Director for France and Benelux, during the presentation. This market share is currently only 12% in passenger traffic in France. She added: " Our aim is to support the operators who will be operating in France, on the one hand, and the customer, on the other, so that they can find their way around this opening-up with the right information on brands, services, opening times, etc." .
Although Trainline did not wish to divulge its market share of train ticket sales in France, nor that of business travellers in its business, Audrey Détrie did tell Voyages d'Affaires that this clientele represented 30% of bookings of the platform in Europe via Trainline for Businesslaunched in 2015. " Our solution is used in France by SMEs and major accounts, as well as by ministries such as the Environment, Economy and Finance." she concluded.
