At the SNCF, the strike which will start on Friday February 16 and last until Sunday February 18 promises to be very popular: more than 70% of controllers have given notice, according to the unions.
By reorganizing the transport plan to respond to the consequences of the controllers’ strike, you gave priority to “snow departures and returns”. Have you favored the trains of the rich: only 10% of French people go on vacation to the snow?
Yes, but these are 20% of our customers! We have not particularly favored trains going to or from the Alps, we have favored the fullest trains. But at this time of year, the trains to the Alps are. We did not do it with a view to profitability or profit. If this were the case, we would have removed the Ouigo, our low cost offer, and kept only the TGV Inoui. However, we have set ourselves the rule that there should be proportionally as many Ouigos as TGV Inouis in our transport plan, so as not to penalize families.
We must also not forget the configuration of the Alpine valleys: it is difficult to organize your return without a train. It is also difficult to find accommodation locally. In the Alps, all trains will therefore run. But I repeat, it is firstly because all the trains are full.
Was it the government that asked you to do this?
No, there has been no discussion with the government on this subject. The only request is that we send as many French people as possible out and back.
Isn’t this to the detriment of other destinations?
Our first priority is that there are TGVs throughout the country. There may be fewer trains but all destinations will be served. When we look at Thursday’s offer [15 février] see you Monday [19 février], there are still 300,000 places available. We will have the possibility of offering a train seat to each traveler. We have also given priority to the TGVs where there are the most passengers with a connection: we try to insure them. Finally, we will have the same proportion of Intercité trains day and night: one in two. Paris-Briançon at night will be guaranteed.
Please note that cancellation or change of ticket is free of charge. And that the customer will have the opportunity to make their next trip with a 50% reduction on the route they want. This seems to us to be a strong measure, in terms of the inconvenience that the French will suffer during the weekend, because we were not there.