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

 

206,814 thoughts on “Railway Industry in France

  1. Thanks for sharing nice information with us. i like your post and all you share with us is uptodate and quite informative, i would like to bookmark the page so i can come here again to read you, as you have done a wonderful job.마사지커뮤니티

  2. Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough to get that “perfect balance” between usability and visual appeal. I must say you’ve done a excellent job with this. Also, the blog loads super fast for me on Chrome. Outstanding Blog! UFABETคาสิโนออนไลน์

  3. I happen to be writing to make you be aware of of the fantastic encounter my friend’s princess encountered visiting yuor web blog. She learned so many issues, which include how it is like to have an amazing coaching mood to have many others very easily fully grasp specific complex subject matter. You undoubtedly did more than our expectations. Thanks for producing those powerful, trusted, informative as well as easy tips about the topic to Jane. แทงบอลยังไง

  4. kantor bola

    KANTORBOLA adalah situs slot gacor Terbaik di Indonesia, dengan mendaftar di agen judi kantor bola anda akan mendapatkan id permainan premium secara gratis . Id permainan premium tentunya berbeda dengan Id biasa , Id premium slot kantor bola memiliki rata – rate RTP diatas 95% , jika bermain menggunakan ID RTP tinggi kemungkinan untuk meraih MAXWIN pastinya akan semakin besar .

    Kelebihan lain dari situs slot kantor bola adalah banyaknya bonus dan promo yang di berikan baik untuk member baru dan para member setia situs judi online KANTOR BOLA . Salah satunya adalah promo tambah chip 25% dari nominal deposit yang bisa di klaim setiap hari dengan syarat WD hanya 3 x TO saja.

  5. TRBMembership TRB Membership Handbook is much more than a collectible item. Through this beautiful and high quality Handbook you can show support and loyalty to the man who will make America great again! 74 Millions of Americans know what is best for our country and have already made their choice

  6. Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant. CBD has become increasingly popular due to its significant health and wellness benefits, with CBD oil being one of the most popular CBD products available today. Its popularity likely comes from its ability to interact with our body’s endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors that are responsible for maintaining homeostasis throughout our bodies. In terms of CBD oil specifically, it is generally composed of CBD extract dissolved in an oil base such as olive, hemp seed or coconut. The CBD derived from the hemp plant is typically high quality and can deliver desirable effects such as relief from pain, inflammation or anxiety without any psychoactive effects usually associated with cannabis. CBD oil can be taken orally or applied topically depending on desired results and personal preferences. Wat is Cannabidiol?

  7. Thanks for sharing the write-up.. mother and father are worlds best human being in Every lives of personal..they want or must be successful to sustain requires of your family.

  8. ProstadineSupplement The secret behind Prostadine’s revolutionary formula is that it is unlike anything you have ever tried or experienced in your life before, and unlike the remedies I have ever prescribed to my patients.

  9. เริ่มต้นปีใหม่กับ เครดิตฟรี 2023 ที่เป็นที่ยอดนิยมผู้คนหลากหลายเข้ามากดรับเองได้ไม่ยากผ่านหน้าเว็บไซร์ของพวกเรา GSLOT 789 นำไปใช้เล่นกับสล็อตออนไลน์ที่ได้รับการันตีว่าเป็นเกมที่ทำเงินง่ายและสล็อต เว็บตรงไม่ผ่านเอเย่นต์ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ https://gslot-789.com/

  10. After I initially commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now each time a remark is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any method you’ll be able to take away me from that service? Thanks! إقامة مستثمر في دبي

  11. Lots of people have owned iPhone since three months ago, but many of them still have difficulties putting music, videos and other resources on iPhone. I have been using my iPhone for quite a long time, and some tips below are what I have learned to put everything I can on my iPhone. Youtube to MP3 Converter

  12. fantastic post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I am confident, you have a great readers’ base already! Berita indonesia

  13. This is my first time visit here. From the tons of comments on your articles,I guess I am not only one having all the enjoyment right here! payroll

  14. Thank you for any other informative web site. Where else may I get that type of information written in such an ideal method? I have a challenge that I’m just now operating on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info.UFAF16

  15. I discovered your blog site website on google and appearance some of your early posts. Preserve up the great operate. I just extra increase Feed to my MSN News Reader. Looking for toward reading far more by you later on!… Agen Berita

  16. 9สล็อต 9สล็อต สล็อตเว็บตรง แตกง่าย เล่นแล้วมั่งมีได้จริง 100% ทั้งมวลนี้ก็คือไอเทมต่างๆที่มากับเงินรางวัลมากมาย ซึ่งถ้าตอนที่ได้กดหมุนสปินอยู่นั้น มีไอเมต่างๆกลุ่มนี้ปรากฏขึ้นมาขณะใด ก็มีความหมายว่าผู้เล่นจะได้รับเงินรางวัลกลับมาตามอัตราการจ่ายของแต่ละไอเทมในทันทีทันใด รวมทั้งยิ่งไปกว่านี้ยังมีไอเทมอื่นๆที่มาพร้อมกับรางวัลเล็กรางวัลใหญ่มากมาย บอกได้ว่าได้ช่องได้ลุ้นกันตลอดทั้งเกมอย่างยิ่งจริงๆ

Leave a Reply

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