How would you sum up 2018?
Rachel Picard - In 2018, our high-speed offer attracted more than three million new customers out of a total of 140 million passengers. All destinations enjoyed strong growth, especially those most popular with our business travellers. Growth was particularly strong on the Lyon and South-East routes, and even reached +7 % on the Atlantic route. The Paris-Bordeaux by INOUI TGV has become the benchmark for the business customers since it opened in July 2017, thanks in particular to the time saved on a centre-to-centre route.
What is the timetable for rolling out the TGV INOUI offer?
R. P. - After Bordeaux, Lyon and StrasbourgSince January 2019, INOUI TGVs have been running between Paris and Lille. This service will be extended to the South-East in summer 2019 with Paris-Marseille and Paris-Nice. By 2020, INOUI TGVs will be serving the entire network with a fleet of 280 trainsets of uniform quality. TGV INOUI has been acclaimed by passengers, with 95 % satisfied customers, an increase of 10 points. This success has been made possible by 8,000 agents trained in our new customer relations system.
Our role is to make travel easier, with the train as the backbone and other modes as a complement.
Has TGV INOUI become the key factor in attracting business travellers?
Rachel Picard - For a long time now, companies have massively chosen to use the train in their travel policy because of a more efficient offer or a "useful travel cost" that is significantly lower than any other mode of transport. The carbon footprint and the reduction of CO2 emissions is also an increasingly important criterion in the choice of companies. The creation of TGV INOUI has attracted new business travellers who appreciate comfort, connectivity and free wi-fi, as well as staff who listen to them during their journey. To better meet the expectations of this clientele, the SNCF has above all developed a Premium travel experience with Business 1era which provides flexibility, time savings and maximum comfort.
Are new services planned for the Pro 1 class?era ?
R. P. - Pro 1 tariffera allows maximum flexibility in the use of the ticket and Business 1 servicesera. The aim remains to make our offer ever simpler, clearer and more convenient to use. Another aspect is to improve the experience both in stations and on board, with our Grand Voyageur lounges - the one at Gare de Lyon is to be renovated - modernised sales areas, the deployment of boarding gates and wi-fi equipment on TGVs. Not forgetting the punctuality of our trains, for which SNCF is undertaking an unprecedented action plan.
What services will the new application, to be launched in 2019, offer?
Rachel Picard - The SNCF application will be upgraded in the summer to become a real personal mobility assistant, a digital platform which will simplify the organisation of journeys whatever the means of land transport used. Eventually, travellers will be able to find out about, book, pay for and validate all urban and inter-city journeys on the Intercités, INOUI and OUIGO TGVs, TERs and coaches, car-sharing and car-pooling services, etc. Other features include the display of the best transport combination, real-time notifications, access to all shared means of transport and a single payment system.
Is providing door-to-door travel solutions a priority for SNCF?
R. P. - Supporting our customers on a daily basis by making their journeys easier and encouraging them to prefer the train has always been a priority. That's why we offer car hirereservation of taxi and, now, valet parking at the departure station to make their journey as smooth as possible. We are also continuing to integrate partner offers on OUI.sncf with Blablacar, VTCs, car-sharing and urban transport. The aim is to offer alternatives to the daily use of individual vehicles by offering all forms of shared mobility in a seamless, address-to-address approach.
Key dates52, HEC graduate. |
