With the reopening Europe's bordersthe railway companies resume their international connections. In particular, the SNCF and its subsidiaries operating between Paris and Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Good news for business travellers with travel requirements. One major exception is the UK, where Eurostar still only operates one return flight a day from London to Paris and Brussels. " La fourteen weeks set up on the British side does not currently allow for a more ambitious transport plan" says Jean-Baptiste Guenot, Director of Europe and International Development at Voyages SNCF. On the other hand, the forthcoming lifting of the four-week period for visitors to Spain should enable SNCF to schedule 2 return trips in the near future per day to Barcelona, the first from Paris, the second from Marseille.
Since 9 June, Thalys is running at 20% capacity, with 1 daily return flight to Dortmund and 9 return flights from Paris to Brussels, 2 of which continue on to Amsterdam. The next increase in capacity is scheduled for 12 July with 50% of capacity with 2 return flights Paris-Dortmund and 7 return flights to Brussels, including 4 to the Netherlands. In terms of services lounges Thalys Paris and Brussels remain closed to the public and the offer of restoration in Thalys Premium class suspended until 30 August. While there has been no confinement in Switzerland, the reopening of the Franco-Hellenic borders is allowing Lyria to operate 50% of its usual transport plan until 3 July, i.e. 4 return flights Paris-Geneva, 1 return flight Paris-Lausanne and 3 to Basel with a connecting flight to Zurich. Confident, the carrier will then increase its capacity to 70%, with a total of 13 round trips between France and Switzerland (including 6 rotations to Geneva, 5 to Lausanne and 4 to Zurich). " French customers are rapidly returning to our routes" Fabien Soulet, Managing Director of TGV Lyria, is delighted. a proactive policy "with the aim of achieving at least 85% of traffic in the last quarter of 2020. Finally, on other international routes, SNCF is currently planning 2 daily Paris-Milan return services, and 4 Paris-Luxembourg return services.
The return of business passengers expected in September
To reassure their customers, railway companies have developed health protocols based on thorough and regular cleaning of trains, and requiring passengers to wear masks and observe barrier procedures. Above all, they feel they have a a card to play against the airlines very hard hit by the Covid-19 crisis. And to highlight the reduced carbon footprint of the trains, the centre-to-centre connections and the useful time for working on board. And Lyria insists on its new fleet equipped with the wifiaccessible on 97%. " In the recovery expected over the next few months, rail is even more of a reference solution than air travel." adds Fabien Soulet, who intends to do his utmost to " to regain customer confidence" . And particularly business travellers. " Le business traffic is currently low due to the teleworkingand videoconference meetings and employees on short-time working" . This situation is not unique to Lyria, and is likely to continue throughout the summer for rail operators. " The resumption of professional mobility is scheduled for September under terms to be defined." adds Jean-Baptiste Guenot. The most difficult situation remains that of Eurostar, with one train a day and " few customers" .
