Railway Industry in France

TGV 1

1. Industry Overview:

In France, one of the most popular transport modes is train.  SNCF is France’s national railway, providing high speed, overnight and local services in France and beyond into Spain, Switzerland and Italy.

>> http://www.tgv-europe.com/en

Types of Train in France:

01-TGV

02-Lunea

03-Teoz

04-TER

06-Intercites

Railway industry is quite similar to airline industry, as it sells seats for a transport from an origin to a destination. The price depends on journey, class, and date of booking. Thus, railway industry can be placed in Quadrant 2, where its service has variable prices for a predictable duration. This industry also has the appropriate characteristics to apply revenue management strategies. Those characteristics are:

– Inflexible capacity: the number of seats on a train is fixed

– Variable and uncertain demand: the demand is different depending on the time of day, day of week, origin-destination pairs, and purpose of travel

– Perishable inventory: the unoccupied seat cannot be inventoried, and the revenue of that seat is missed

– Low marginal cost and high production cost

– Product can be sold in advance

– Heterogeneous customers with different segments, varying by age, purpose of travel, independent or group, etc.

However, there are some differences that make the revenue management of railway industry is little bit different than that of airline industry.

More difficult to forecast demand and to have the accurate number of travelers on a service: no check-in procedure, open tickets (rail pass) generally allow passengers to travel on any rail service, walk up tickets are very common (a large number of passengers purchase their tickets on the day from the station)

Less difficult to deal with overbooking: passengers are often allowed to stand during train journeys hence increasing capacity beyond the number of seats

———

 2. Space

Railway industry defines space implicitly.

Normally, a train has two classes: Economy (2nd Class) and Comfort (1st Class). The seating options and services are different for each class. The price is same for different seating options in a class.

 Economy Class:
01-Class2
 Comfort Class:

01-Class 1

Trains, especially TGV has “TGV bar”, which provides a wide selection of meals and sweet snacks available for purchase. Additionally, the TGV bar offers films on DVD, magazines, games for children, Paris Metro tickets, even USB sticks for purchase. There is also a rolling snack cart that comes to the customers’ seats.

01-TGV Bar

For additional revenue, TGV offers Premium service includes 1st Class seat, meal service, and access to the TGV lounge at the train stations.

Personally, I would charge difference fares for different seating options in each class. A group will want to pay more to have a Club 4 seat. A couple will want the Duo seat or Club 2 seat. And an individual traveler will want a solo seat. As the number of seat are fixed, we can charge for each option, rather than a “first comes first served” policy.

I’m also thinking about a mini-cinema on train, especially overnight train. Normally, the overnight train have load factor less than 80%, so the train can use one car to transform into a mini-cinema with a projector and a screen. When the train is busy, the car will be transformed in normal guest car again.

——

3. Time

Railway industry defines time implicitly.

Although the duration of a journey is determined, the railway industry sells a journey rather than specifically selling time. In addition, there may be issues that cause the increase/decrease in duration of the journey.

However, the railway industry also tries to sell time explicitly with the Rail pass. With Rail pass, customers can have unlimited travel on the national rail network of France for a fixed number of days. The choices are 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9-day pass within a one-month period. Travel days may be used consecutively or non-consecutively.  Thus, the fare becomes rate-per-day, not anymore rate-per-trip.

>> http://www.raileurope.com/rail-tickets-passes/france-pass/index.html

The industry can sell time explicitly by providing Rail pass with weekly or monthly unit. However, I think it will not be effective as it makes the demand forecasting much more complicated.  Half-day unit won’t make sense as a trip is normally more than 3 hours.

——–

4. Price

Tickets can be purchased 60 to 120 days in advance depending on the route.

Ticket discounts are based on advance purchase, availability, and certain restrictions. Everyone is eligible to receive discounted fares by purchasing an Economy or Comfort class ticket in advance. Youth and seniors can enjoy specific discounts as well. Discounted tickets are available for youth (under 26 of age), seniors (age 60 and over) and children (generally ages 4-11) but should be verified with each product.

Price at 1 week before departure
01-Price-1st class-10AM-1wk

Price at 2 weeks before departure

01-Price-1st class-10AM-2wk

Price at 3 weeks before departure

01-Price-1st class-10AM-3wk

Price at 4 weeks before departure

01-Price-1st class-10AM-4wk

Normally, prices are reduced for 1or 2 week-advanced purchase, slightly reduced for 3-week-advanced purchased, and stay same for more-than-4-week-advanced purchase.

The physical rate fences are the classes:
01-Booking-Class

 

The non-physical rate fences are age, season ticket, and loyalty

01-Booking-Rate Fences-1

01-Booking-Rate Fences-2

01-Booking-Rate Fences-3

01-Booking-Rate Fences-4

As the rate fences are now already too sophisticated, I would rather consolidate these fences than create new fences to confuse customers.

 

(-Thao Ly)

——–

References:

http://www.raileurope.com

http://www.tgv-europe.com

http://www.sncf.co.uk/

Amstrong and Messneir, 2010. Railway revenue management: Overview and Methods

Schroeder, Braun, and Schnieder. Revenue management in the railway industry

 

163,643 thoughts on “Railway Industry in France

  1. I love your blog, thanks for sharing such a wonderful topic. Read Hindi News and find the latest Hindi Samachar and Khabren only at Prashasan Plus News, खबरे.

  2. This is a good post. This post gives truly quality information. I’m definitely going to look into it. Really very useful tips are provided here. Thank you so much. Keep up the good works. Cupom Lojas Americanas

  3. Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place.. yakinqq

  4. Here is the best poster templates online to create your own custom poster in minutes, no need to hire a designer. Brochures can be a very important part of your business or organization in terms of product. PhotoADKing is the best site for Poster Makerr online.

  5. Remarkable article, it is particularly useful! I quietly began in this, and I’m becoming more acquainted with it better! Delights, keep doing more and extra impressive! Sink Laundry Tub

  6. Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It’s so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also parisqq

  7. Essential oil infused masks can be used for a wide range of smells that we encounter as healthcare professionals. Health Care professionals and patients would benefit the most from having the choice of a natural plant-based Scented Face-Mask that would not only be soothing and calming but will also be boosting their immune system, and the immune system of the healthcare provider

  8. This particular is usually apparently essential and moreover outstanding truth along with for sure fair-minded and moreover admittedly useful My business is looking to find in advance designed for this specific useful stuffs… Stahlwandpool

  9. You have a real ability for writing unique content. I like how you think and the way you represent your views in this article. I agree with your way of thinking. Thank you for sharing. ymail com

  10. At Andalon Partners, we find new finance opportunities for clients’ equipment acquisition. We service industries from biotechnology and medical to robotics and transportation, as well as construction, manufacturing, professional services, and many more

  11. I just couldn’t leave your website before telling you that I truly enjoyed the top quality info you present to your visitors? Will be back again frequently to check up on new posts. job advertising site

  12. غذاساز بوش یا همان ماشین های چندکاره یکی از پرکاربردترین لوازم خانگی برقی در هر آشپزخانه است که امروزه سطح فروش بسیار بالایی در دنیا را به خود اختصاص داده است و از این رو با توجه به درخواست های خرید این محصول برندهای معتبر در رقابت تولید بهترین ها در این دسته از محصولات هستند. از جمله برند آلمانی بوش که امروزه انواع غذاساز بوش را در صدر بهترین مارک های غذاساز به رخ دنیا می کشد چراکه علاوه بر ویژگی ها و تکنولوژی های روز دنیا در این دسته از محصولات خود، کیفیت، طول عمر و گستره متفاوتی از مدل ها را در اختیار خریدارانش گذاشته است. شاید برایتان جالب باشد که بدانید که غذاساز ها اولین بار در سال 1960 میلادی توسط یک شخص فرانسوی اختراع شده و امروزه به یکی از کارآمدترین ها در وسایل پخت و پز تبدیل شده است. در ادامه این مطلب سعی داریم تا در عناوین مختلف از بهترین مارک غذاساز، ویژگی و کاربرد غذاساز بوش و نحوه استفاده از این کالا بگوییم تا شما بتوانید هرچه آسان تر این محصول کاربردی را در مدلی مناسب برای خود انتخاب نمایید.

    https://www.itna.ir/news/61013/%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%AA%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%BA%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B4

  13. I know this is one of the most meaningful information for me. And I’m animated reading your article. But should remark on some general things, the website style is perfect; the articles are great. Thanks for the ton of tangible and attainable help. dank carts

  14. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. download mp3

  15. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work… job board

  16. تعمیر لوازم خانگی در محل و بدون نیاز به جا به جایی از مهمترین خدمات یک مجموعه است که باعث صرفه جویی در زمان، هزینه های حمل و نقل و سرعت در ارائه خدمات میگردد. برای مرتفع کردن نیاز به تعمیرات لوازم خانگی خود انتخاب درست در انتخاب مرکزی مجاز از اهمیت بالا برخوردارد میباشد. تعمیر24 بعنوان بهترین مرکز تعمیرات لوازم خانگی تهران در سال 1397 از دید مشتریان انتخاب شد.

    https://www.tamir24.com/

  17. I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the new stuff you post. qq online

  18. Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually realize what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Please also seek advice from my site =). We could have a hyperlink change contract between us! Playsetskids Review

  19. You have done a great job on this article. It’s very readable and highly intelligent. You have even managed to make it understandable and easy to read. You have some real writing talent. Thank you. Sports Betting

  20. You have a real ability for writing unique content. I like how you think and the way you represent your views in this article. I agree with your way of thinking. Thank you for sharing. job search

  21. I really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to understand. Unlike other blogs I have read which are really not that good.Thanks alot! telurqq

  22. Thanks for the blog loaded with so many information. Stopping by your blog helped me to get what I was looking for. sakong

  23. Wow, What an Outstanding post. I found this too much informatics. It is what I was seeking for. I would like to recommend you that please keep sharing such type of info.If possible, Thanks. pracovní portály

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *