SNCF's Volunteer Army for the Paris Olympics
SNCF has recruited over 6,000 information volunteers and improved more than 3,000 stations for seamless connection management.
Highlights
SNCF uses low-carbon trains for the Paris 2024 Olympics, showing commitment to sustainability.
SNCF focuses on improving station accessibility and offering diverse travel options for a smooth journey.
Anticipating challenges, SNCF implements measures like information volunteers to ensure efficient transportation during the Games.
As the excitement builds towards the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, athletes worldwide prepare for glory while millions of visitors plan their journey to France.
But how will these visitors navigate their way around the country? This is where SNCF, France's leading railway network, steps in.
SNCF Initiative
SNCF is partnering with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Their main initiative aims to address climate and environmental challenges. But how will they achieve this?
Primarily, SNCF will transport passengers and athletes to competition venues in the Paris region and across France using low-carbon trains. This strategy aligns with the event's climate and environmental goals. With over 15 million visitors expected, SNCF aims to operate 15,000 trains daily, facilitating the movement of 15,000 athletes and millions of spectators.
Not all sporting events will take place in Paris. Soccer matches, for instance, will be held across the country, from Bordeaux, Nantes, and Lyon to Saint-Étienne, Nice, and Marseille. The final rounds of basketball tournaments will take place in Lille, while the sailing competition will be based in Marseille.
To address the challenge of transporting visitors around the country, SNCF has recruited over 6,000 information volunteers and improved more than 3,000 stations for seamless connection management. Visitors can choose between two travel options: TGV InOui and TGV Ouigo. InOui offers premium comfort features, while Ouigo is a more budget-friendly option with limited on-board services.
This initiative will help SNCF manage crowd flow, make stations accessible for individuals with limited mobility, and provide intermodal transport for easy access to competition venues. They aim to provide intermodal transport options for easy access to competition venues. By doing so, SNCF contributes to the success of the Paris 2024 Games while promoting sustainability and inclusivity.
Public Reaction to SNCF's Involvement
Most of the public's reactions to SNCF's involvement are supportive. Here are a few examples:
"Supporting major sporting and popular events is part of our group's DNA," said SNCF chairman Jean-Pierre Farandou.
"SNCF Group's long history, the presence of its trains and stations throughout France, and its commitment to the ecological transition through one of the greenest forms of transport anywhere—it's a perfect match," says Tony Estanguet, President of the Organizing Committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"With this tailor-made offer and in close collaboration with our colleagues at SNCF, we reaffirm the importance of the train to travel to major events in Luxembourg and to destinations accessible from the Grand Duchy," said Marc Hoffmann, Director of Traveler Activities at CFL
These statements underscore SNCF's positive contributions and alignment with significant events and environmental goals. The company's involvement appears well-received by the public and relevant stakeholders.
Entrepreneurial Lessons from SNCF
There are several entrepreneurial lessons we can learn from the company. However, we will focus only on the main three ones:
Leverage Big Events for Sustainability Goals: SNCF uses the Olympics to showcase its commitment to eco-friendly travel. This approach aligns with the growing consumer interest in sustainability and can attract environmentally conscious customers.
Prioritize Customer Experience: SNCF is taking several steps to ensure a smooth experience for visitors, including information volunteers, accessible stations, and diverse travel options (TGV InOui for comfort and TGV Ouigo for budget). Remember that customer satisfaction is a key factor in their strategy.
Address Potential Challenges Proactively: SNCF anticipates issues like crowd control and intermodal transport during the Olympics. Preparing solutions like information volunteers and seamless connections, aim to minimize disruptions and frustrations for passengers.
While SNCF has ambitious goals for the Olympics, from sustainability to traffic management, only time will tell how effective they are. We can expect some train delays, as they occur even in normal times. The rest—we leave it up to you.
Financial Outlook
On February the 24th 2023, the French State announced a €100bn investment plan (€67bn for development + €35bn for network modernization) into the French rail infrastructure.
SNCF has reduced its debt, which now stands at €24.2 bn compared to €24.4bn, down by -€0.2bn, even with strategic investments including Trans-o-flex1 by GEODIS, confirming the Group’s progress towards a return to healthy, sustainable finances.
For fiscal year 2023, free cash flow was €2.5bn (+€1.2bn YoY).
SNCF’s financial roadmap calls for productivity gains of €4.2bn between 2020 and 2028, €0.8bn higher than in 2018 – despite additional operating costs arising directly from Covid-19 (disinfecting trainsets, etc.)
The Group continued to reduce debt, thanks to robust business activity and rigorous management. Net debt fell to €24.2bn, down -€0.2bn from 31 December 2022. Bottom line: the Group continued its return to a financially sound, sustainable footing.
In 2023 the Group paid €1 billion in dividends (Fonds de Concours) to its shareholder, the French State, which chose to allocate the full amount to renovating the national rail network.
SNCF’s net profit for FY23 was €1.409bn (-€1.106bn YoY). View the FY23 financial report here.