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

 

208,442 thoughts on “Railway Industry in France

  1. It was very interesting to read the article, thank you. I have never been to France, but I would like to visit there and see the Eiffel Tower. If you are interested in cryptocurrency trading or bitcoin futures trading, you can find out more about it on my website: https://cryptomargintrading.info

  2. Pakistan’s most trusted brand in Premium Quality Men, Women and Kids Garments and Undergarments like Thermals, Vest, Sock, Underwear, Boxers, Trousers and Night Dresses.Tempo Garments Provides The Wide Range Of Quality Products To Its Customers At Lowest Price. A project of Topstar Factory Faisalabad http://tempogarments.com/

  3. Онлайн-курс IT Jira для менеджеров от IAMPM. Обучение навыкам работы с процессами: настройка, кастомизации, автоматизации. Умение работать с плагинами, аналитикой и Сonfluence. Наши спикеры — только практикующие IT-специалисты, которые делятся последними наработками и реальным опытом. https://iampm.club/jira-time/

  4. “Wir sind Canberry Innovative Werbeanlagen. Bester Service. Großartiger Preis. Ein kundenorientiertes Unternehmen für hochwertige Werbeanlagen.

    Unser Ziel: Unternehmen und Geschäfte in Ihrem Außenauftritt zu verstärken. Wir wollen mit Ihnen Werbeanlagen planen und umsetzen.
    schilder und lichtreklamehersteller

  5. Wir sind Canberry Innovative Werbeanlagen. Bester Service. Großartiger Preis. Ein kundenorientiertes Unternehmen für hochwertige Werbeanlagen. Unser Ziel: Unternehmen und Geschäfte in Ihrem Außenauftritt zu verstärken. Wir wollen mit Ihnen Werbeanlagen planen und umsetzen. Denn unsere Erfahrung zeigt uns, dass sich diese Investition wirklich lohnt. Ihre Marke ist das Gesicht Ihres Unternehmens. Es ist das erste, was Ihre Kunden von Ihnen sehen. Entscheiden Sie selbst, wie sie im Gedächtnis bleiben praxisschilder

  6. There are numerous factors that play a part in determining how flexible a TPU phone case will be. The manufacturer works hard to produce a phone case with enough inflexibility to fit on the phone and hold the phone forcefully through normal everyday use. What is tpu material

  7. Beacon Services & Appliances, also known as Beacon Air & Heat, Inc. has been serving Citrus County and surrounding areas for 25 years. Beacon is a full service HVAC contractor providing installation, maintenance, and repair of residential air conditioners. Beacon offers in-home repair on all major appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers. Beacon also has a appliance showroom in Beverly Hills offering Speed Queen and Whirlpool brand appliances with free delivery.

  8. I admire this article for the well-researched content and excellent wording. I got so involved in this material that I couldn’t stop reading. I am impressed with your work and skill. Thank you so much. Buy Suboxone Online

  9. This type of article that enlighted me all throughout and thanks for this.This going to be excitement and have fun to read. thank to it. check this out to for further exciting.
    카지노사이트

  10. This type of article that enlighted me all throughout and thanks for this.This going to be excitement and have fun to read. thank to it. check this out to for further exciting.
    토토

  11. Interested in start up a online business on line denotes revealing your service also providers not only to humans within your town, nevertheless , to numerous future prospects which are cyberspace on many occasions. pays daily Kanada Visa Online

  12. There couple of intriguing points in time in this post but I do not know if I see these people center to heart. There is some validity but I most certainly will take hold opinion until I investigate it further. Great post , thanks and we want more! Included in FeedBurner likewise 토토사이트

  13. Definitely believe that which you said. Your favourite reason seemed to be on the internet the simplest factor to consider of. I say to you, I definitely get irked at the same time as other people think about issues that they just don’t recognise about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top well defined out the entire thing without having side effect , other folks could take a signal. Will probably be again to get more. Thank you! 토토사이트

  14. To play online slots games, online gambling games. It’s not that just having money alone will be able to play. because first All slot players must understand. “Rules to Know About Playing Online Slots”slotauto

  15. Game slot terbaik 389Sports ?
    Game Slot Online Aztec Gems
    Game Slot Online Joker’s Jewels
    Game Slot Online Wild West Gold
    Game Slot Online Sweet Bonanza
    Game Slot Online Gates Of Olympus
    Game Slot Online Starlight Princess idn slot

  16. Online Football Site | Sbobet88 Login | The Latest Sbobet Alternative Link 2022

    Please note that there are soccer sites that provide easy login sbobet, only using alternative sbobet links where you play whenever and wherever. With this login sbobet access, you can help bettors who want to make soccer bets online.

    The most popular soccer gambling site, of course you are curious where else to login sbobet that can help your performance in making a soccer bet. Just login sbobet using one User ID, you can enjoy all online soccer rides. Immediately register yourself and login sbobet to start a bet and earn up to hundreds of millions of rupiah in each game.

  17. I discovered your weblog website on google and examine a few of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the excellent operate. I simply additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. In search of forward to studying extra from you later on!… 5 hour class

  18. Extremely intriguing online journal. A lot of web journals I see nowadays don’t generally give anything that I’m keen on, however I’m most definitely inspired by this one. Recently felt that I would post and let you know. 메이저토토사이트

  19. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers! driving license

Leave a Reply

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