French travellers turn to trains as airfares rise

Demand for rail and intercity bus travel in France is increasing as higher fuel costs and rising airfares reshape travel choices, according to data reported by BFMTV citing SNCF Connect.

During the final two weeks of March, train ticket sales rose by 8% year-on-year, while long-distance bus tickets, including services operated by BlaBlaCar and FlixBus, saw a sharper increase of 16%.

French travellers are also showing a growing preference for domestic trips. Bookings for international travel fell by 5.7%, with Spain experiencing a 9.5% drop. Lower-carbon transport options such as trains and buses are proving particularly attractive.

SNCF Voyageurs expects approximately 1.8 million passengers to use rail services over the Easter weekend, with one in three trains already fully booked for the period. In an effort to boost ridership, SNCF is launching a new low-cost Ouigo service between Paris and Bordeaux, offering tickets from 10 euros, or 5 euros for children under 12. The route is projected to carry around 100,000 passengers in 2026.

Travel platforms Trainline and Liligo report surging demand for several European destinations, including London (+80%), Madrid (+166%), Karlsruhe (+142%), Stuttgart (+74%), and Ventimiglia (+77%). Key advantages of rail travel include direct access to city centres, greater comfort, and reduced exposure to energy price volatility.

Bus operators, including FlixBus, are also recording increased demand for short-distance journeys during the Easter holiday period. The shift in travel behaviour is largely driven by rising fuel prices and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East.

By Tamilla Hasanova