After the presentation of the next TGV M a month ago, the SNCF lifted the veil on the first train at Gare de Lyon on Thursday morning. Ouigo renovated, named "Tango. Gone are the flashy pinks and blues that fit in with the world of his low-cost service launched by SNCF in 2013. The new interior decor now features a blue-grey for the seats and walls, and a deeper blue to make any stains less conspicuous. Like its future big brother Inouithe new Ouigo is promising not only more comfortable seats, but also free USB-C or electric sockets at all seats (compared with a €3 surcharge at present), 10% more luggage space, redesigned toilets, 16 places for hanging bicycles, not to mention a new "Relax" area in the middle of the train to stretch your legs. An effort will also be made to improve the cleanliness on board. The choice of more neutral colours and the improvement in on-board comfort are intended to respond to the greater diversity of customers present on board, and in particular of business travellers in greater numbers. While recharging your phone or computer will be free of charge, wifi will remain a chargeable option when you book.
Low prices to respond to criticism of high prices
SNCF management bets more than ever on its trains Ouigo to resist the competition which is becoming more pressing every year in France. With theOuigo to represent 30% of SNCF Voyageurs' high-speed offer by 2030. " Ouigo is our trump card in meeting the expectations of the French who want more trains, more seats and affordable prices. 50% of seats are sold for less than 30 euros." said Alain Krakovitchthe director of TGV-Intercités. This is in response to user criticism of prices deemed to be too high. exorbitant prices on the Inoui TGV.
A fleet of 50 Ouigo trains by 2027
Between now and 2028, SNCF plans to refurbish ten Ouigo trainsets that have reached the end of their useful lives - corresponding to around fifteen years of loyal service - at a cost of €8 million, and to invest a total of €600 million in this development project. This highly aggressive plan includes the introduction of 12 additional trainsets to bolster the current fleet of 38 trains. With a strike force of 50 trains with more capacity (with 1306 seats compared to 1288) by 2027, the airline aims to carry 33 million passengers a year by 2030, 8 million more than last year. The calculation is simple: " increase the number of trains by 30% to increase the number of passengers by 30%" .
Launch of the Paris-Hendaye route in early December
The second aspect of this increase in power concerns frequencies and services, with the aim of offering stops at 75 stations by 2027, compared with around 60 today. In December 2025, the Paris-Hendaye line will complete the network, with stops at Dax, Bayonne, Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz stations. In terms of frequency, the SNCF will also be adding a third daily return trip on Paris-Rennesthen in summer 2026 on Paris-Montpellier and for the 2026 winter service on Paris-Lyon every weekend. This is the last route on which SNCF is now in head-on competition with Trenitalia, and possibly tomorrow with La Poste. Renfe if the Spanish company does not withdraw from the French market. A stronger offering on Paris-Strasbourg is finally under consideration, as is the opening of the Paris-Lille although the journey time on this route is only around an hour.
