Will French people wishing to spend the festive season with their families stay on the platform this Christmas? SNCF unions have called for an indefinite strike from December 11.to demand a moratorium on the dismantling of Fret SNCF. A social movement “avoidable”judged the head of the rail company Jean-Pierre Farandou in an interview. à La Tribune Dimanche on November 17, stating that“there will be no redundancies”. and that “the additional pension contribution for transferred railway workers will continue to be paid”. by SNCF.

“That’s why I say to the railway workers: stay on the side of the French!” pleaded Jean-Pierre Farandou, calling for the “sense of responsibility of the company’s agents and employees. “You were involved with them during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. […] You were also there for them during Covid.” The SNCF CEO also pointed out that“a day’s strike costs 20 million euros”.the price of one TGV train for every two days of strike action. As for a freight strike, it would cause “structural lossesbecause “customer companies turn to the road and stay there”..

More expensive tickets in 2025?

The dismantling of Fret SNCF is the culmination of a plan negotiated between the European Commission and the French state, suspected of having paid aid to Fret SNCF in violation of competition rules. There were two options: either to negotiate a “discontinuity plan which eliminated the Fret SNCF entity and made it possible to avoid legal proceedings, or take the risk of going to litigation and losing, with the obligation to repay 5 billion euros, which could have led to the company’s liquidation.

Jean-Pierre Farandou has also prepared people’s minds for a potential rise in train fares in 2025, even if it’s not a major event. “not decided”. He pointed to the costs that “are increasing.” : “Some of it has to be passed on in prices.” The SNCF CEO believes, however, that the TGV remains affordable, with an average ticket price of 45 euros. “That’s not even the price of a cab between Paris and Roissy airport”.he points out, even though the same journey costs just 11.80 euros by public transport. As for Ouigo, the company’s low-cost TGVs, he points out that their share should rise from 20% to 30% of the high-speed offer by 2030.