SNCF: increase in fare caps on certain lines for Avantage card beneficiaries

Bad news for SNCF users who have subscribed to the Avantage card. According to the newspaper Libération, new price caps have been applied since July on the Paris-Angers lines; Paris-Mâcon; Paris-Aix-les-Bains; Paris-Morlaix and Marne-la-Vallée-Chambéry, going from 49 euros to 69 euros. “SNCF Voyageurs has had to adjust the capped prices on ten journeys since the start of the year,” a company spokesperson also confirmed to BFM Business. An increase justified by the calculation of the average journey time, but which would not have been reported to customers.

For a price of 49 euros per year, the Avantage card allows SNCF users to obtain train tickets at capped prices. The railway company previously guaranteed a maximum price of 49 euros for a journey lasting less than 1h30, 69 euros for a journey between 1h30 and 3 hours and 89 euros for a journey lasting more than 3 hours.

Change of calculation mode

Since February, on certain lines, the calculation is based on the average travel time observed on a journey without connections, taking into account any stops. Thus, a ceiling change was made in February for the Paris-Rennes lines; Paris-Lorient; Paris-Poitiers; Lille-Lyon and Lille-Starbourg.

This same method of calculation has been applied since July for the Paris-Angers lines; Paris-Mâcon; Paris-Aix-les-Bains; Paris-Morlaix and Marne-la-Vallée-Chambéry.

VideoThe SNCF requires you to be seated within 15 minutes of departure, otherwise your place will be reassigned

These increases “only concern the highest 2nd class price levels. The majority of travelers with the Avantage Card travel at a price lower than the capped price,” further specifies SNCF at the microphone of BFM Business. Furthermore, the company assures that no other price increase is planned for the time being.

By Editor