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

 

205,944 thoughts on “Railway Industry in France

  1. Great things you’ve always shared with us. Just keep writing this kind of posts.The time which was wasted in traveling for tuition now it can be used for studies.Thanks 온라인바카라

  2. i am always looking for some free stuffs over the internet. there are also some companies which gives free samples.

  3. 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. 메리트카지노

  4. Thanks so much for this information. I have to let you know I concur on several of the points you make here and others may require some further review, but I can see your viewpoint 샌즈카지노

  5. Wow, cool post. I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real hard work to make a great article… but I put things off too much and never seem to get started. Thanks though. 메리트카지노

  6. โปรโมชั่น pg slotPG SLOT สมัครใหม่ 50% สมาชิกใหม่รับโบนัส สูงสุด 500 บาท จากการฝากทีแรก นอกจากนี้้ ถ้าหากสามารถทำเทิร์น 6 เท่า ที่สามารถถอนสูงสุดถึงสิบเท่าของยอดฝากรวมกับโบนัส โปรโมชั่น pg slot

  7. I do trust all the ideas you have offered on your post. They are very convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are very quick for beginners. May you please extend them a little from next time? thanks you for the post.
    https://www.bacarasite.com

  8. I am sure this piece of writing has touched all the internet users, its really really fastidious piece
    of writing on building up new weblog.

  9. Decent data, profitable and phenomenal outline, as offer well done with smart thoughts and ideas, bunches of extraordinary data and motivation, both of which I require, on account of offer such an accommodating data here 토토사이트
    ^^

  10. Wow, cool post. I’d like to write like this too taking time and real hard work to make a great article but I put things off too much and never seem to get started. Thanks though. freelancer

  11. When finding reliable Removalists Point Cook is as easy as one-two-three, your whole moving experience becomes stress-free. CanCompare helps you save time and money by finding you a quality moving company at the best price. In 3 easy steps, you get access to competitive quotes from movers that suit your moving needs based on your requirements. Once you have your quotes from the moving companies, it’s simple, compare the quotes and book your moving company of choice.​ No matter the size and scope of your move, we help you connect with trusted local movers to help make your move stress-free.

  12. I finally found great post here.I will get back here. I just added your blog to my bookmark sites. thanks.Quality posts is the crucial to invite the visitors to visit the web page, that’s what this web page is providing. business analytics course in surat

  13. This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like ‘Mixview’ that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you’re listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of “neighbors” will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune “Social” is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose. Pakyok24

  14. The ICICI Bank (Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India) has offered multiple methods along with Toll-Free Numbers to check the account’s available balance and access to various banking facilities. ICICI Balance Check Number By using the ICICI Balance Check Number, customers can access their final available balance of the fund through Missed Call Banking, SMS Banking, USSD, WhatsApp, and other ways. There are multiple online & offline ways are introduced to know account balance. Advised to use mobile banking facilities to quick balance enquiry from follow above link.

  15. The ICICI Bank (Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India) has offered multiple methods along with Toll-Free Numbers to check the account’s available balance and access to various banking facilities. ICICI Balance Enquiry Number By using the ICICI Balance Check Number, customers can access their final available balance of the fund through Missed Call Banking, SMS Banking, USSD, WhatsApp, and other ways. There are multiple online & offline ways are introduced to know account balance. Advised to use mobile banking facilities to quick balance enquiry from follow above link.

  16. The ICICI Bank (Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India) has offered multiple methods along with Toll-Free Numbers to check the account’s available balance and access to various banking facilities. ICICI Missed Call Number By using the ICICI Balance Check Number, customers can access their final available balance of the fund through Missed Call Banking, SMS Banking, USSD, WhatsApp, and other ways. There are multiple online & offline ways are introduced to know account balance. Advised to use mobile banking facilities to quick balance enquiry from follow above link.

  17. Great site! I really love the way it is simple on my eyes it is. I am thinking about how I may be told at whatever point another post has been made. I have bought in to your RSS which may work? Have an incredible day! Dating Coach London

  18. Once you have decided what your answers are to the first question, you can concentrate on the rest. What is advantageous about online casino directories is that it’s a one stop shop for all the answers you are looking for.온라인카지노

  19. more infoWhether you’re looking for an affordable handset or a top-of-the-line smartphone, we have something for everyone at themobileprices.pk!

  20. Admiring the time and effort you put into your website and in depth information you present. It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed information. Wonderful read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account. 롤강의

  21. Really a great addition. I have read this marvelous post. Thanks for sharing information about it. I really like that. Thanks so lot for your convene. Matthew Knoot

  22. After study a number of the blog articles on the internet site now, we really appreciate your method of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site list and are checking back soon. Pls have a look at my web page in addition and figure out what you believe. baby swaddle

  23. I’m impressed, I must say. Really rarely must i encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail around the head. Your thought is outstanding; the issue is an element that too few persons are speaking intelligently about. I will be very happy that I came across this during my search for some thing regarding this. Baby Knot gown

  24. Admiring the time and effort you put into your website and in depth information you present. It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed information. Wonderful read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account. blood glucose monitoring devices

Leave a Reply

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