Did you plan to take the train next week? Warning. SNCF will cut 10% of its TGV and 20% of Intercités from Monday. This average of 9 TGVs out of 10 and 8 Intercités out of 10 maintained hides disparities. Night trains will all be provided, while “the adaptation of the offer will be stronger” for international TGVs, insists the railway company, contacted this Saturday. Next week, the most affected will be the Eurostar, which will cross the Channel to link Great Britain with “less than 10% of the planned supply”. Travelers to London should therefore already make their arrangements.
How do you know if your train is canceled? “All the customers concerned have been contacted or will be contacted by SMS,” SNCF emphasizes. If they haven’t received an SMS, it’s because their train is running as planned. »Those whose TGV or Intercity trains have been canceled will be able to« exchange their ticket or be reimbursed free of charge until departure ». Will they be able to find places on the other trains of the day? “Those who wish will be able to reposition themselves,” assesses the SNCF. We are not in a period of great departures and if we are adapting our offer, it is because reservations are down. The trains are not full. “
No regions more affected than the others
Are the lines with the highest frequencies the ones with the most cancellations? “There are no regions more affected than others, underlines the railway company. We adapt the transport plan according to many factors. A train that is not very full on the outward journey can, for example, be maintained if it then makes a strategic return. “
“It’s not exceptional. Since the start of the crisis, we have been adapting to each stage of this pandemic, ”continues SNCF. The very high-speed spread of the Omicron variant and the shift to three days of mandatory teleworking caused the number of passengers on trains to drop. “The drop in bookings has been 30% since the start of the year, particularly during the week,” notes the railway company.
Numerous cases of Covid among TER staff
By the last week of December, many TER had already disappeared from the gates, depriving travelers of their usual train. “On average, more than 90% of TERs continue to circulate at the national level”, reassesses the SNCF. Their traffic has been affected by the multiplication of Covid patients and contact cases within teams of drivers and controllers, essential for the circulation of a train. “For TGV and Intercités, this is not the case, details the spokesperson. We have cases of Covid, neither more nor less than the rest of France. But the drop in the number of trains is directly linked to the drop in ridership. It is not linked to staff absences. “
The reduction in the number of TGVs and Intercités in circulation might, however, make it possible to suffer less from a possible increase in sick leaves. “We prefer to be prepared and have anticipated for the week a robust and reliable transport plan for customers. We have made reservations for replacements. “So fewer trains, but without unexpected cancellations.
