SNCF: Towards a sharp increase in ticket prices by 2026?

The increase in the “carrier fee” could cause train ticket prices for SNCF travelers to skyrocket in the coming years.

Indeed, the French Transport Regulation Authority (ART) along with SNCF Réseau approved at the end of February the increase of the “carrier fee,” which is paid by passenger transport companies to use the French rail network. The cost of this fee will rise by 8% for regional trains (TER) and 7.6% for high-speed trains (TGV) and Intercités in 2024. In the following two years, a 4% annual increase is scheduled.

The “carrier fee” is a charge levied for the maintenance and the “fixed operating costs” of the French railways. It concerns TER, Transilien, and Territorial Equilibrium Trains (TET), as well as TGV and Intercités. The rise in the fee will inevitably impact the price of tickets on the French railways, which have already experienced a 5% price increase in January due to rising energy costs.

What impact for SNCF users?

Rail tolls account for about 40% of the ticket price. With this increase, SNCF and the regional authorities may pass the cost onto passengers, potentially limiting travel for many commuters.

This is hard to accept, considering the record profits reported by SNCF in 2022. The company states that it would reinvest this sum into the development and renovation of the network. However, this increase in toll charges could exclude some populations dependent on trains. For economic reasons or due to lack of space, these individuals rely on public transport such as trains to commute to work.

Moreover, with the strikes by railway workers, it becomes nearly impossible for these users to travel, costing both passengers and SNCF dearly. Additionally, SNCF has committed to the government to achieve financial balance by 2024.

All in all, these are bad news for railway users in the coming years, hoping that inflation and energy prices stabilize before the summer holidays, to allow for travel during the vacation period!

Also read: SNCF Annual Leave Ticket: How to get a round-trip at -25%?