SNCF has just announced the upcoming sale of a new Rail Pass giving access to unlimited travel on all regional networks throughout the summer. What are the conditions to benefit from it?
It’s done ! THE Rail Pass will indeed see the light of day this summer. It was a desire of the President of the Republic, who said he was in favor of the creation of a transport ticket so that young people could travel by train and at advantageous prices during the summer period, inspired by the German model. . But not without difficulties! Several regions were opposed until very recently to this project from which Île-de-France was immediately excluded: Normandy, Hauts-de-France and Auvergne Rhône-Alpes. Our colleagues from Parisian give financial (the government must finance it up to 80%, the rest will be the region) and political reasons for this categorical refusal, even going so far as to argue that the presidents of these three administrative entities did not wish to make any “gift” to the government of Gabriel Attal.
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But the trend has reversed these days with the support of other regional presidents including Carole Delga (Occitanie). “They were also harassed by the local press, who asked them why they refused when all the other regions accepted. Ultimately, they gave up under pressure”, confided a close friend of the Minister of Transport to our colleagues. It was he himself who confirmed the good news after having found a consensus, on the evening of Wednesday April 3.
Rail Pass: unlimited travel for a month
Patrice Vergriete welcomed this “Excellent news for 700,000 young people who will benefit during the summer period“namely during the months of July And August 2024. This package will be valid a monthrenewable according to the wish of their holder, and will cost 49 euros. The Rail Pass is intended for young people from under 27 years old and concerns regional rail transport networks more commonly known as TER. If the trains Intercity are also affected, the national network is not. In other words, this unlimited package will not give access to the TGV. Note that no resource conditions are stipulated and, what is more, this Rail Pass experiment is only a “first step” before its extension to the Ile-de-France region in 2025, we suggest.
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Late in the evening of Wednesday April 3, Emmanuel Macron was also delighted with this agreement on social networks. He published a short message on X (formerly Twitter) referring to his previous interview with YouTuber Hugo Travers, in September 2023, in which the Rail Pass was mentioned. “That those under 27 can travel by train unlimitedly in France: in front of Hugo, I said banco! The Rail Pass at €49 per month becomes reality this summer. Where will you go?”, he asked his fellow citizens. In response, the comments are very contrasting and reflect the tensions that divide the French.
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Rising prices for TGV Inoui tickets
For those over 27, other offers already exist and allow you to benefit from reduced rates by booking in advance. This is the case in all regions, but they differ from one to another.
Regarding TGV Inoui travel, please note that tickets have already been put on sale for the period covering Saturday July 6 to Wednesday September 11 inclusive, March 13. Without any real surprise, the French were at the meeting set by SNCF since some trains are already full although around 14 million seats must be offered to customers in total. It should be noted that TGV Inoui ticket prices increased in 2024, by 2.6%, after experiencing a sharp increase in 2023 (+5%). On the other hand, those for Intercités trains and TGV Ouigo remain the same.
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