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

 

162,735 thoughts on “Railway Industry in France

  1. LabelBazaars.com is an online Fashion & Lifestyle Blog for both men and women. We bring together various topics of interests such as Fashion, Lifestyle, Hair & Beauty, Skin, Health, Events, and Latest trends all under one roof. labelbazaars

  2. You have made some decent points there. I looked on the internet for more information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this web site. dse英文補習

  3. I simply wanted to thank you a lot more for your amazing website you have developed here. It can be full of useful tips for those who are actually interested in this specific subject, primarily this very post. 中三英文補習

  4. Board of School Education Announced the Board 11th class Blueprint. It is the responsibility of schools to conduct the examination at their own pace and decide the New Blueprint. 11th Exam Pattern 2024 Get the latest 1st Inter Blueprint 2024 and Download the Board 11th Blueprint on its official website. Blueprint 2024 for 11th Class and start preparation according to the exam New Blueprint 2024 to score in Board exam.

  5. PG Slot ผู้เปิดให้บริการเกมส์ สล็อตออนไลน์ ที่ดีที่สุดค่ายเกมส์สล็อตออนไลน์ชั้นนำที่มีใบรับรองจากสากล ตามมาตรฐานหลักของผู้ให้บริการ คาสิโนออนไลน์ เปิดให้บริการตลอด 24 ชั่วโมง เพื่อให้คุณสามารถทำเงินได้อย่าง
    ไร้ขีดจำกัดสมัครสมาชิกได้แล้ววันนี้ ผ่านเว็บไซต์อันดับ 1 ของประเทศไทย ทางเลือกเข้าสู่คาสิโนออนไลน์ ที่ปลอดภัย มั่นคง และยั่งยืนในระยะยาว.
    pg slot

  6. Dan jujur dari kita tim Panjitoto juga memberi tambahan acung jempol kepada game slot yang satu ini, dan kami berani bilang tidak ada yang mampu mengalahkan pamor berasal dari Gates of Olympus sementara ini.

  7. ผมเชื่อว่าหลายๆคน คงรู้จักบาคาร่า ค่ายดังซึ่งเป็นการเป็นเกมคล้ายๆ ป็อกเด้ง แต่บาคาร่านี้เป็นการลงระหว่าง Player หรือผู้เล่น และ Banker หรือเจ้ามือ การหงายไพ่ทั้งสองฝั่งสู้กัน หากคุณลงได้ถูกฝั่งจะได้เงินรางวัลไป
    นอกจากนี้ยังมีการลงเดิมพันเสมอ และไพ่คู่ ซึ่งให้ผลตอบแทนที่สูง และโอกาสการออกของเพย์เยอร์และแบงค์เกอร์ มีโอกาสเท่ากัน ในส่วนของเสมอและไพ่คู่ แม้อัตราการจะสูง แต่โอกาสออกก็ยากเช่นกัน
    kickoffbet

  8. Can I just say such a relief to seek out somebody that truly knows what theyre referring to on the net. You definitely have learned to bring an issue to light and work out it critical. More and more people must look at this and understand this side from the story. I cant believe youre no more popular since you certainly provide the gift. 홈런벳

  9. ผมเชื่อว่าหลายๆคน คงรู้จักบาคาร่า ค่ายดังซึ่งเป็นการเป็นเกมคล้ายๆ ป็อกเด้ง แต่บาคาร่านี้เป็นการลงระหว่าง Player หรือผู้เล่น และ Banker หรือเจ้ามือ การหงายไพ่ทั้งสองฝั่งสู้กัน หากคุณลงได้ถูกฝั่งจะได้เงินรางวัลไป
    นอกจากนี้ยังมีการลงเดิมพันเสมอ และไพ่คู่ ซึ่งให้ผลตอบแทนที่สูง และโอกาสการออกของเพย์เยอร์และแบงค์เกอร์ มีโอกาสเท่ากัน ในส่วนของเสมอและไพ่คู่ แม้อัตราการจะสูง แต่โอกาสออกก็ยากเช่นกัน
    kickoffbet

  10. SA GAMING เว็บพนันออนไลน์อันดับ1 ของเอเชีย และมีคนเข้าใช้บริการมากที่สุดในขณะนี้ เพราะมีเกมเดิมพันที่ครบวงจร ไม่ว่าจะเป็น บาคาร่า รูเล็ต เสือมังกร กำถั่ว เกมวงล้อเสี่ยงโชค ไฮโล และเ
    กมสล็อต พร้อมให้ทุกท่านได้ร่วมสนุก ถ่ายทอดสดส่งตรงจากคาสิโนจริง ด้วยอินเตอร์เนตความเร็วสูง ปลอดภัยด้วยระบบเซิร์ฟเวอร์ป้องกันข้อมูลของลูกค้าในระดับมาตรฐานสากล รองรับทุกระบบการเล่นทุกแพล็ตฟอร์ม สมาร์ทโฟน แท็ปเล็ต และ คอมพิวเตอร์ ให้บริการด้วยมืออาชีพ ตลอด 24 ชม.
    sa gaming

  11. The CSOne is online upkeep the executives programming intended for support and fix specialist co-ops. It is explicitly intended to satisfy the prerequisites for these administrations and effectively improved profitability of thousands of clients around the globe 成人英文

  12. I want you to thank for your time of this wonderful read!!! I definitely enjoy every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff of your blog a must read blog 小學英文補習

  13. Extremely helpful post. This is my first time I visit here. I found such huge numbers of intriguing stuff with regards to your blog particularly its dialog. Extremely its incredible article. Keep it up. 中三英文補習

  14. Thank you for sharing the data which is beneficial for me and others likewise to see also Thanks to the person who wrote this article. I am a mobile apps developer & MOD APKs creator. I am working on developing Android mobile apps, MOD APK-like tin patti gold apk, I recommend this website APKalldone. Hope you love it.

  15. I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Superb work! goliath

  16. A simple bookmarking tool that makes it easy to save, organize and share your favorite web pages. Access your bookmarks from any computer, phone or tablet. Listango works on all modern web browsers… 補習社

  17. Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this website. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s hard to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and visual appeal. I must say that you’ve done a very good job with this. Additionally, the blog loads super fast for me on Safari. Exceptional Blog! pragmatic lapak pusat

  18. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own BlogEngine blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it. 補習社

  19. You need to do regular maintenance services on your AC to enjoy more efficiency without the need to replace with new one. If you decided to do your AC services yourself ensure that you shut down the power before doing anything to your AC unit. If you are going to do the repairs or services on own, know that you may end up causing more damage to the unit. Remember that wrongly handling the unit can lead the new issues developing. Only an experienced technician can fix the problem.

  20. I wish more authors of this type of content would take the time you did to research and write so well. I am very impressed with your vision and insight. SEO 香港

  21. 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. dog harness and lead

Leave a Reply

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