Trenitalia is launching a new TGV link between Paris and Marseille, with four daily round trips

The Italian railway company is already present on the Paris-Lyon axis. For the moment, this competition does not seem to harm the SNCF. But its more competitive prices could seduce more passengers thanks to this connection open from Sunday.

A direct competitor for the SNCF on the Paris-Marseille axis. The Italian company Trenitalia, already present since the end of 2021 on the Paris-Lyon line, launched this new high-speed connection on Sunday June 15. The four daily round trips will also serve Lyon, Avignon and Aix-en-Provence (first departure at 5:54 am from Paris in the direction of Marseille and at 6:52 am from Marseille in the opposite direction).

It is a threat still very relative to the SNCF. According to the latest assessment of the Transport Regulatory Authority, relating to 2023, Trenitalia represented a market share of less than 1% in number of passengers transported in high-speed trains, but 6% of the offer in Paris-Lyon. For the moment, this does not seem to have harmed the Inoui TGV and the SNCF Ouigo, since the overall attendance of the line increased by 10% compared to the COVVID pre -crisis, in a context where the rail is doing well in general.

In any case, the launch by Trenitalia of the Paris-Marseille link marks a real offensive, with aggressive prices: from 27 euros the standard ticket go, in less than 3:30. It is true, however, that the Italian company currently benefits from rebates on the rail toll prices paid to SNCF Réseau, as provided for in the law to facilitate the arrival of new entrants. Up to 38% discount this year, according to Sud-Rail, which denounces the situation and judges unfair competition vis-à-vis the SNCF.

Even if the competitors who arrive in France are well entitled to declining discounts on the tolls, it should be remembered that the basic prices of these tolls are among the highest in all of Europe. This complicates the economic model of companies because there are trains filled with at least 75%or even 80%, to achieve profitability.

The SNCF itself loses money, even if the figures are kept secret, on at least a third of the TGV lines, precisely not profitable enough. But the system balances in a way with those where there are benefits to be drawn. The group’s leaders fear that competitors obviously focus on profitable lines alone, starting with Paris-Lyon, the golden egg hen of the French network, and that it ends up destabilizing things.

That said, in addition to Trenitalia, only the Spanish Renfe has so far launched on high-speed connections in France, Lyon-Barcelona and Marseille-Madrid, with a lot of difficulties, in particular to have its high-speed trains models approve. And it leaves doubt about a possible withdrawal from France. As for the projects of French competitors, only that called with the code name of “Proxima” today seems financially solid for a launch in 2028 on the lines between Paris and the Atlantic coast.