By SudOuest.fr with AFP
The fall in reservations due to the fifth wave and Omicron will force the SNCF to reduce its transport offer from next week
SNCF will cut 10% of its TGV and 20% of Intercités from next week, announced a spokesperson on Friday, explaining this measure by a drop in reservations due to the health crisis.
“Taking into account a observed drop in reservations of 30% since the beginning of the year – in particular during the week – the TGV transport plan will be adapted from next week and provided for 90% of the planned offer, and 80% for Intercités, ”a spokesperson for SNCF Voyageurs told AFP.
“Like all of society”
All night trains will be provided, while “the adaptation of the offer will be stronger” for international TGVs, in particular for the cross-Channel Eurostar service “which will run at less than 10% of the planned supply”. Travelers whose trains are canceled will be contacted and will be able to change their ticket or be reimbursed, he assured.
The SNCF, whose travelers had largely returned during the Christmas holidays, has already downsized several times since the start of the health crisis. “Like any employer, we are indeed confronted at the scale of the SNCF group (SNCF Voyageurs, SNCF Réseau, SNCF Gares & Connexions) with the effects of this 5th Covid wave, but neither more nor less than the rest of society”, he clarified.
At regional level, TERs have been affected for several weeks by “local adaptations” of transport plans. “On average, more than 90% of TERs continue to circulate nationally at present,” according to the spokesperson.