SNCF Voyageurs

SNCF Voyageurs is the main French national railway operator, responsible for operating TGV (high-speed trains), Intercités, and TER (regional express trains). It's currently newsworthy due to several factors related to the opening of French rail lines to competition. Recently, SNCF Voyageurs lost a bid for operating TER lines in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region (Poitou-Charentes) to Transdev, marking a further erosion of its monopoly after losing the Marseille-Nice line. However, it initially retained the first lot of lines open to competition in Poitou-Charentes before ultimately losing it to Transdev. Meanwhile, the Paris-Berlin night train route, previously operated in part by SNCF Voyageurs, is being relaunched by European Sleeper. Furthermore, a TGV experienced significant delays and disruptions, highlighting service reliability issues. In response to these challenges, SNCF Voyageurs has appointed Karine Dussert-Sarthe, a marketing expert from Orange, to lead the TGV and Intercités division, signaling a shift towards a more business-oriented approach. These events underscore the ongoing transformation of the French railway landscape and the challenges SNCF Voyageurs faces in maintaining its market share and service quality in a competitive environment.