1. A significant cost increase in 2023
Train VS plane: a subject at the centre of controversy following the explosion in energy prices and the impact of inflation on most of its costs. Travellers will face a very significant increase in the cost of TGV tickets in 2023 in France. Besides, the forecast increase in energy costs for TGVs will reach 180% between 2022 and 2023.
In the same context, the other cost items will increase by 6% on average, in line with inflation. According to INSEE, prices will continue to rise at the beginning of 2023, with inflation expected to reach 7%.
According to Jean-Pierre Farandou, the head of the SNCF, the company will not pass on the increase in electricity prices. “The railway company is currently working on setting up a tariff shield at the request of the government”.
2. The decision
If SNCF Voyageurs were to pass on the full cost increase, prices would rise by around 13% in 2023. However, SNCF Voyageurs has chosen to protect its passengers by deciding not to pass on the entire increase (SNCF press release), for the following reasons:
- To maintain attractive prices and a simple offer
- To encourage people to take the train
- To protect customers who are most sensitive to the impact of inflation.
This decision also aims to protect leisure and price-sensitive passengers, as OUIGO passengers and Advantage card holders will not be affected by the increase.
3. Is flying an alternative in the face of inflation?
By studying the prices of air tickets and train tickets for the period between 12 and 20 December 2022, we have seen that there are no major differences between these two modes of transport. In fact, the prices of train tickets have increased drastically, which reduces the price gap. When analysing the prices, we can notice a difference of almost 50€ on some of the rail routes.
When analysing this increase, there is one point that we cannot keep a closed eye on, the carbon impact. We have a duty to be committed to limiting our carbon footprint in the face of the ecological challenge. This commitment can be held through the use of low-carbon transportation. Indeed, there is a real difference between the sustainability of the train and the sustainability plane. Check our previous article about this topic: Is rail travel greener than air travel?
Eco-responsible travel is no longer a choice but a duty. It is a real advantage for both the business traveller and the company. As you can see, the plane is the most polluting means of transport, 80x more than the train. To encourage eco-friendly choices, Ayruu allows you to have real-time visibility on your carbon footprint thanks to our CO2 calculator. Company managers can decide the necessity of the trip based on a number of criteria including total cost, CO2 impact, and the reason for travel.
To end our article, do you think that companies should make a financial effort at the expense of carbon impact?
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