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

 

166,510 thoughts on “Railway Industry in France

  1. Hiya! Fantastic blog! I happen to be a daily visitor to your site (somewhat more like addict ) of this website. Just wanted to say I appreciate your blogs and am looking forward for more! thc vape cartridges

  2. Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. Big thanks for the useful info. vanilla gift card balance

  3. I am glad to read this article. I think this will useful and informative topic for everyone. This is such a nice post. I have been impressed by the unique content. I loved your post and got some good ideas for it. MY Link

  4. It was a decent post to be sure. I completely delighted in understanding it in my lunch time. Will definitely come and visit this blog all the more frequently. Much obliged for sharing. pandora australia

  5. This is a great article thanks for sharing this informative information. I will visit your blog regularly for some latest post. I will visit your blog regularly for Some latest post. ashley judd heat

  6. I have used a lot of juicers in the past and I created this blog to help juice lovers make the right decision in choosing the type of juicer that best fit their needs. There are several good masticating juicers to choose from.  補習社

  7. یکی از نیاز های کاربراندر بازار ارز های دیجیتال اطلاع از قیمت ارز دیجیتال بصورت لحظه ای هست درسایت ارز سنج اطلاعات مفید و دقیقی از قیمت انواع ارز های دیجیتال جمع آوری شده و ارائه می شود

  8. آکادمی ارزسنج سعی داره که با ارائه انواع دوره ارز دیجیتال، ورود هموطنانمون به بازار های جهانی رو ساده و سریعتر کنه. همونطور که میدونین این روزا که تورم و فشار اقتصادی به نقطه اوج خودش رسیده و کیفیت زندگی هممون رو پایین آورده.

  9. یعنی 11 آبان ماه در این لحظه قیمت بیت کوین لحظه 20,449.27 دلار است که با احتساب نرخ تتر 35,400 تومانی، قیمت BTC به تومان معادل 723.90 میلیون تومان معامله میگردد. برای اطلاع از قیمت لحظه ای ارز های دیجیتال به سایت ارزسنج مراجعه کنید.

  10. คาสิโน UFABET คาสิโนสด เครดิตฟรี สมัครง่าย ตลอด 24 ชั่วโมง บริการ คาสิโนออนไลน์ ฝาก ถอน ด้วยระบบ AUTO ใน 3 นาที Line: @ufa88v4 คาสิโนสด เครดิตฟรี

  11. An extremely wonderful blog entry. We are extremely appreciative for your blog entry. You will discover a great deal of methodologies in the wake of visiting your post. I was actually scanning for. Much obliged for such post and please keep it up 數學補習

  12. A debt of gratitude is in order for an extremely intriguing online journal. What else may I get that sort of data written in such an ideal methodology? 補習社

  13. Smart One IPTV apk is a media player for Smart TVs, including Samsung TVs with Orsay and Tizen, LG TVs with webOS and Netcast. The Smart One IPTV app allows end users of Xtream Code or similar panels to view their content via an API. It allows users to watch shows, VOD (video on demand), on any Smart TV with ease of use. SmartOne IPTV is a multilingual and compatible application. Smart One IPTV also supports m3u playlists created/generated by other IPTV systems. smart one iptv

  14. Very good article. I absolutely like this post. Thanks for your post. The article is neatly organized with the information I want, so there are many things to refer to. Bookmark this site and visit often in the future. Thanks again.토토

  15. เว็บพนันออนไลน์ที่ดีที่สุด ได้รางวัลง่ายที่สุด มีเกมพนันมากมายให้เลือกเล่น ทั้งสล็อตออนไลน์ บาคาร่า แทงบอลออนไลน์ คาสิโนออนไลน์ อีกมายมาย ต้องที่นี่ nurevdeneve ครบเครื่องเรื่องเกมพนัน สมัครสมาชิก และเข้าเล่นได้ทันที

  16. I admit, I have not been on this web page in a long time… however it was another joy to see It is such an important topic and ignored by so many, even professionals. I thank you to help making people more aware of possible issues. filmyzilla

  17. Your online diaries propel more each else volume is so captivating further serviceable It chooses me happen for pull back repeat. I will in a blaze grab your reinforce to stay instructed of any updates. dog singapore

  18. Your post is extremely useful to get some compelling tips to decrease weight appropriately. You have shared different pleasant photographs of the equivalent. I might want to thank you for sharing these tips. Without a doubt I will attempt this at home. Continue refreshing increasingly straightforward tips this way. 補習社

  19. Mikro saç kaynak fiyatları diğerlerine göre daha fazla olsa da uygulama sonrasında gerçek bir saçtan ayırt edilemez. Mikro bant kaynak yönteminin doğal ve kaliteli durması için mutlaka kaliteli malzemeler kullanılması ve uzman kişilerce yapılması gerekmektedir.
    Adres: https://sackaynak.com.tr/

  20. certainly like your web site but you have to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to inform the reality then again I will surely come again again. Packers and Movers Chennai to Pune

  21. Bu işlemde ince tutamların kullanılıyor olması saça ağırlık vermeyeceğinden dolayı kafada herhangi bir baskı hissedilmemiş olur. Mikro kaynak işlemi yalnızca saçları uzatmak değil aynı zamanda gür göstermek içinde yapılmaktadır. İlk yapıldığından itibaren güzel görülen saçlar kolay kullanılabilir.
    Kaynak : https://sackaynak.com.tr/

  22. I think I have never observed such web journals ever that has finish things with all points of interest which I need. So sympathetically refresh this ever for us. puppies sg

  23. As I website possessor I believe the content material here is rattling wonderful , appreciate it for your hard work. You should keep it up forever! Good Luck. mpo99

  24. Qualifying patients with an Arizona Medical Marijuana Registry ID card may purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks from a certified, licensed dispensary. If there is no dispensary open within 25 miles of the patient, that patient can grow his or her own marijuana. Patients will not be allowed to consume marijuana at the dispensary. Arizona Dispensaries will be able to sell edible food products infused with marijuana as long as the dispensaries comply with specific preparation regulations and they are labeled to show the specific marijuana content. Medical Marijuana Card Bronx

  25. Wow! This could be one of the most useful blogs we have ever come across on thesubject. Actually excellent info! I’m also an expert in this topic so I can understand your effort. best smm panel

Leave a Reply

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