2023-09-11 04:15:00
The red Thalys will soon have a pink and blue competitor, between Paris and Brussels. SNCF and SNCB – its Belgian counterpart – are working to put into service a classic line between the two capitals, in addition to the high-speed one. “Ideally, we would like to launch it for the Olympic Games,” confides an SNCF administrator. We are convinced that there is a market where we can compete with the car. » The companies had, at the beginning of the summer, communicated that they were “considering” it. In reality, the project is well and truly on track, and moving forward quickly.
The two operators, who had initially planned to launch at the end of 2024, questioned SNCF Réseau on the feasibility of launching the offer on the occasion of the global sporting event which begins on July 26 and ends on August 11 2024. The rail network manager has given the green light. The SNCF and SNCB would thus start with two round trips per day during the competition before increasing to five daily rotations from the following December.
The train, departing from Gare du Nord, would serve Creil, Aulnoye-Aymeries, Mons, Brussels Midi, Brussels Central, Brussels North and ending in Schaerbeek. All in around three hours, twice as long as in Thalys.
Belgian trains, a French brand
In cooperation, the Belgian company would provide the equipment, with trains capable of circulating on the networks of the two countries. The SNCF would supply the brand, already known in France: Ouigo Classic Train, synonymous with low prices. The two operators want to build on the success of the slow Ouigo launched in spring 2022 on Paris-Nantes and Paris-Lyon.
If they keep the same price scale as that in force on these two lines, tickets will cost between 10 and 49 euros. “There are still details to be resolved but we are close to success,” confides this same administrator. All that will remain is to officially launch the service… or not. Because a grain of sand disrupts the project.
“SNCF Réseau is carrying out work on the line during the competition. Which could postpone our launch,” squeaks an SNCF Voyageurs administrator. “There is nothing unacceptable,” corrects a source at the manager. The train would bypass the work – carried out only on weekends – which could extend the journey time by around an hour.
“But, with low prices and classic speed, this should not necessarily affect the attractiveness of the commercial offer, even on weekends,” says an informed observer. The two companies must decide in the coming weeks on the launch of this new international line.
Ouigo projects in Paris-Bordeaux and Paris-Rennes
In France, the SNCF also plans to develop its classic Ouigo Train – “our anti-car weapon” – on Paris-Bordeaux and Paris-Rennes, with one or two round trips per day. The first would leave from Austerlitz or Bercy station with several stops including Juvisy and Futuroscope in Poitiers, before reaching the Gironde capital. The journey time will be between 4h55 and 5h39 compared to just over two hours by TGV.
The second would reach Rennes in four hours from Austerlitz or Bercy station with stops at Versailles or Chartres and Laval, according to the declaration of intent filed by the SNCF, in the heart of summer, with the Authority transport regulation.
“This is the classic procedure, but it does not commit anything,” says a source at SNCF Voyageurs. For the moment, we are studying the question but the objective is to launch a service in December 2024.”
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