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

 

167,380 thoughts on “Railway Industry in France

  1. If you are searching for the easy way to merge PST files, then try SysCurve PST Merge Tool. It is one of the best tools that quickly combine multiple PST files into one. The software maintain the original folder structure. The tool also offer free demo version. You can use this tool on Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and below versions. The software also support all versions of MS Outlook.

  2. 99.4% pure white aluminum oxide grit is the most common abrasive media used in cosmetics.
    This material is widely used in a wide variety of applications, from cleaning engine heads to
    making skin-treatment products. It is also an excellent abrasive that can be re-blasted countless
    times. It is one of the most common and safest abrasives on the market, with its grit size being
    consistent and rapid compared to sand and other abrasives. Furthermore, it leaves a clean, even
    surface.

  3. 99.4% pure white aluminum oxide grit is the most common abrasive media used in cosmetics.
    .https://www.dustlessblastingmachine.com/product/white-aluminum-oxide
    This material is widely used in a wide variety of applications, from cleaning engine heads to
    making skin-treatment products. It is also an excellent abrasive that can be re-blasted countless
    times. It is one of the most common and safest abrasives on the market, with its grit size being
    consistent and rapid compared to sand and other abrasives. Furthermore, it leaves a clean, even
    surface.

  4. แทงบอลโลก

    สมัครแทงบอลโลก แทงบอลโลก แทงบอลโลกออนไลน์ บอลโลกค่าน้ำดี เดิมพันบอลโลก เว็บเดิมพันที่ดีที่สุด แทงฟุตบอลโลก มาร่วมเปิดประสบการ์ณไปด้วยกัน

    https://www.xn--12cfj7dq2bpta6b0b4b2ota.net/

  5. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn anything like this before. So good to search out someone with some authentic ideas on this subject. realy thank you for beginning this up. this web site is one thing that’s needed on the web, someone with somewhat originality. useful job for bringing something new to the internet! a course in miracles

  6. Thanks for making the honest attempt to speak about this. I believe very robust approximately it and want to read more. If it’s OK, as you gain more in depth wisdom, would you thoughts adding extra articles similar to this one with additional information? It might be extremely useful and useful for me and my friends. a course in miracles

  7. Very Nice Post. Really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us. Great site and a great topic as well I really get amazed to read this. It’s really good. Thanks For Sharing Your Blog.
    Basalt Fiber Suppliers

  8. Thank you because you have been willing to share information with us. we will always appreciate all you have done here because I know you are very concerned with our. Uniswap

  9. اینانس یکی از بهترین صرافی های داخلی برای خرید تتر می باشد و این ارز را با بهترین قیمت ممکن به خریداران ارائه میدهد.

  10. dewa poker adalah Agen dan situs judi bandar, Pker, Domino dengan server terbaik menyediakan beberapa permainan yang di gemari oleh masyarakat. Anda dapat memainkannya sambil bersantai sambil minum kopi dimanapun Anda berada. Anda pun dapat bermain di smartphone kesayangan Anda tanpa ribet.

  11. lapak 303 dapat di mainkan di smartphone terkemuka seperti Android APK / iPhone. Anda bisa Bermain kapan saja dan dimana saja dengan minimal deposit hanya 20ribu sudah dapat bermain menikmati game pkr dari dewapkr.

  12. Balloon Decoration near me Book Balloon Decoration For Birthday Party with India’s No. 1 Balloon Decoration Company available in 200+ Cities For All Occasions Birthday Anniversary Party in City.
    Get Upto 60% Off on All Balloon Decoration Packages City Best Balloon Decoration Company Starting Just 999 For Birthday Anniversary Room Decoration.
    Contact Details :- 7450960060
    https://www.7eventzz.com/mumbai

  13. 吸うやつブランドの工場から直卸しのアダルトグッズのため、ラブグッズの正規品をお得にゲットできる。オシャレな性生活を提案する大人のおもちゃ通販ショップ 、BeYourLover アダルトショップ.

  14. Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting? I’m pleased I discovered it though, ill be checking back soon to find out what additional posts you include. Uniswap

  15. Select From 500+ Birthday Themes Kids , Romantic , Baby Shower Balloon Decoration by Most Skilled Balloon Decorators in City On Time Delivery No Hidden Charges. Book Balloon Decoration For Birthday Party with India’s No. 1 Balloon Decoration Company available in 200+ Cities For All Occasions Birthday Anniversary Party in City. Get Upto 60% Off on All Balloon Decoration Packages City Best Balloon Decoration Company Starting Just 999 For Birthday Anniversary Room Decoration.
    Contact Details :- 7450960060

  16. 吸うやつブランドの工場から直卸しのアダルトグッズのため、ラブグッズの正規品をお得にゲットできる。オシャレな性生活を提案する大人のおもちゃ通販ショップ 、BeYourLover アダルトショップ.

Leave a Reply

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