Worried before the summer about the return of business travellers to its TGV and Intercités services, SNCF is now rather reassured, and even optimistic, based on the observation of traffic in September 2021. " 60 % of business travellers with a Pro fare are travelling again. This figure rises to 75 % if we include very small companies. And more and more companies are telling us that their employees will be travelling between now and the end of 2021, particularly for trade fairs. "says a delighted Alain Krakovitch, Director of Voyages SNCF. Other favourable signs according to a study presented this morning on the sidelines of the IFTM Top Resa tourism trade fair: 72 % of companies that have resumed their travel recommend using the train as a priority.
In fact, only a third of companies still apply travel restrictions. And the systematic use of videoconferencing is now used by only 5 % of companiescompared with 20 % before the summer. " Companies will increase the number of business trips over 200 km by the end of 2021 "says Alain Krakovitch. It should be noted that this recovery is also affecting international routes, with " first full trains at Thalys and Lyria ". He added: " Eurostar is also growing its business customer base, although there is more ground to make up here ".
Alain Krakovitch looks ahead to the year as a whole a drop of only 10 % in business traffic compared with 2019This compares with a decline of 20% anticipated in the spring. A return to the levels of this reference year is now expected". from 2023 or 2024 ". In many companies, the Covid crisis has also accelerated the choice of rail as the mandatory mode of transport for journeys of less than three hours over the last 18 months. To help them make this sustainable mobility choice, the SNCF is going to offer companies a personalised carbon assessment.
Good start for the Annual Telework Package
However, the SNCF has spared no effort in attracting business travellers back to its trains. A promotion is still running - until 18 October - on the Liberté card, offered in BtoC at €299, compared with the usual €399 (€269 compared with €379 via travel agents). Some 40,000 Liberté cards were sold. since the start of this commercial operation. SNCF has also recorded good results for its new Annual teleworking packageIn just one month, 3,500 business travellers subscribed to this package. As a reminder, this allows 250 journeys to be made from Monday to Thursday and a discount of 40 % compared with the classic Annual Plan. There are 'only' 5,000 users of the latter, 2,000 of whom have opted to switch to the Telework Annual Plan.
More services to compete in the future
In order to prepare for the arrival of Thello (or its parent company Trenitalia), the railway company is also improving its Business Première services on the Paris-Lyon route. The programme includes the gradual arrival of Océane trains on the network, a corner in the Business lounge at Paris-Lyon station, rapid access to the TGV, a welcome drink on board, a new press portal and a restaurant available on reservation. The carrier will unveil more details of this 'response' on 19 October. " Our competitors will not have the frequency and flexibility that SNCF can offer its customers. "The director of Voyages SNCF wants to reassure himself. As part of this containment strategy, SNCF also intends to launch a Premium contract to complement its existing Pro and Key Account contracts.
