In Occitanie, the €1 train is a hit

Regional trains at 1 euro are increasingly popular in Occitanie. A new record for ridership was recently set at the beginning of the month.

During the weekend of February 4 and 5, over 90,000 tickets at 1 € were sold in Occitanie. This figure, representing a 23.5% increase compared to January, sets a new ridership record. It confirms the success of the initiative launched in October to provide an alternative in response to fuel shortages. Taking into account subscribers, the liO regional trains were used by 106,000 travelers over the weekend. This total is three times higher than that of a normal weekend.

“It’s proof that travelers clearly choose the train when the offer is available and the fare is attractive,” rejoices Carole Delga, the president of the Occitanie region. “It’s good for purchasing power, good for the planet, and it’s a win-win because by attracting new users to our regional trains, we manage to increase revenue: +15% in 2022, while the national average is +9%. It’s a great calling card that builds loyalty among new users; nearly half (44%) take the train again after their first 1 € trip.”.

Trains at 1 € once a month

Since December, 1 € train tickets have been offered on the first weekends of each month. However, the operation will be paused in July and August, months during which the offer of low-cost travel is already considered sufficient. Starting this year, the Occitanie region also activates the program during pollution peak alerts.

The next operation will therefore take place on March 4 and 5. Tickets will go on sale from February 22.

Read also: Cheap train: which subscription or discount card to choose?