SNCF: New Slow and Cheap Lines in 2024?

The French operator would like to test three new slow and cheaper routes to Bordeaux, Rennes, and Brussels departing from Paris.

In 2022, SNCF launched a service between Paris and Lyon, as well as Paris and Nantes, called Ouigo Classic Trains. The French operator intends to increase its destinations with this service starting December 15, 2024, according to our colleagues at Les Échos. The newspaper reports that several applications have been submitted to the Transport Regulatory Authority. These will serve for the inauguration of the previously mentioned routes.

A preferential fare

It has been a little over a year since SNCF has been operating daily trains between Paris and Lyon and between Paris and Nantes at minimal prices. Tickets range from 10 to 49 euros for adults and 5 to 8 euros for children. Since then, more than 1.3 million tickets have been sold. One might then assume that fares for the new destinations will be similar in scale.

New destinations to facilitate travel for some residents

Of course, among the new destinations, there will be cities where TGV trains do not usually stop. Between Paris and Rennes, the towns of Orly, Massy, Versailles, Chartres, Le Mans, and Laval will be served. For the Bordeaux route, Juvisy-sur-Orge, Fleury-les-Aubrais, Orléans, Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, Tours, Futuroscope, Poitiers, and Angoulême will be on the route. For these two destinations, trips will be daily, with one or two round trips per day.

Finally, the last destination is Brussels, located in Belgium. However, it is the Belgian National Railway Company (SNCB) that manages the rail network in Belgium, so the two operators will handle the traffic. The train will pass through Creil, Aulnoye, and Mons in Belgium to reach Brussels. This time, five round trips per day are planned by the two operators.

Locomotives from 50 years ago

Old locomotives will pull the nine carriages used to transport passengers. There will be 720 seats available, with a minimal service.

Read also: SNCF: 100,000 tickets remaining for intercity routes