In 2024, the government will put in place a “price shield” for rail, and in particular a “price freeze” for Ouigo and Intercités train journeys, to allow “French people who are experiencing the most difficulties to take the train”. announced Thursday, December 7, the Minister for Transport, Clément Beaune, on Franceinfo. “The train must be affordable and popular, that’s clear,” explained Mr. Beaune.
To do this, the minister said he was taking four measures for the rail sector, including three price freezes constituting a sort of “price shield” based on the model of what was done “last year” to fight against inflation of prices. energy prices. “I want us to have a price shield again next year, but for it to be a little different: I want it to be targeted precisely at the French who have the most difficulty taking the train,” said explained the minister.
“First, there will be a freeze on prices on the Ouigo”, or “one TGV in four”, he announced, because “it is often the TGV that young people take, that people who have a little less means.” “This makes high speed accessible to everyone on many lines,” said Mr. Beaune. There will also be “a freeze on prices on Intercités trains”, these trains “which have been neglected” in terms of investment but which “more than 12 million French people use each year”, he said. “We are buying new trains,” he noted, “but we are also going to freeze their prices, it’s a question of respect, for next year.”
The Minister for Transport has, moreover, “required of the SNCF” that the fare ceilings enjoyed by holders of the Avantage reduction card, which had been increased by 10 euros this summer, do not increase throughout the year 2024. Furthermore, Mr. Beaune confirmed the launch “by next summer” of a rail pass, which will allow unlimited TER and Intercités travel anywhere in France.
“It is also a measure to lower prices, because it will allow a price that will be very accessible,” he said. This price is not yet defined, because “we are in the process of discussing it with the regions”, he recalled, but it will be in “the order of magnitude of what the Germans do, it i.e. around 49 euros per month.”