From next week, the National Company of French Railways (SNCF) will cut 10% of its TGV and 20% of its Intercités, announced a spokesperson for the railway company, Friday January 7, justifying this measure by a drop in reservations due to the health crisis.
“Taking into account a observed drop in reservations of 30% since the start of the year – especially during the week –, the TGV transport plan will be adapted from next week and provided for 90% of the planned supply, and 80% for the Intercités ”, explained to Agence France-Presse (AFP) a spokesperson for SNCF Voyageurs, the SNCF group company responsible for passenger rail transport in France and Europe.
All night trains will be operated, while “The adaptation of the offer will be stronger” for international TGVs, in particular for the Eurostar cross-Channel service. Travelers whose trains are canceled will be contacted and will be able to change their ticket or be reimbursed, he assured.
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“The Transilien transport plan will be almost normal”
The SNCF, whose travelers had largely returned during the Christmas holidays, has already downsized several times since the start of the health crisis.
“It is not a question of unexpected train cancellations, but of adapted transport plans, which can take into account the less frequentation of travelers (…), but also the objective of ensuring the most reliable transport plan for travelers, taking into account the effects of reduced availability of SNCF staff affected by the Covid ”, explained the spokesperson. “Like any employer, we are indeed confronted at the scale of the SNCF group [SNCF Voyageurs, SNCF Réseau, SNCF Gares & Connexions] to the effects of this fifth vague, but neither more nor less than the rest of society ”, he clarified.
At the regional level, the TERs have been affected for several weeks by “Local adaptations” transportation plans. “On average, more than 90% of TERs continue to circulate nationally”, according to the spokesperson. As for suburban trains in the Paris region, “The Transilien transport plan will be almost normal in the coming days and might be slightly adapted next week depending on the lines depending on the health situation and the availability of SNCF agents”, he warned.