Paris, December 22 – The OUIGO Paris-Brussels rail service, a collaboration between SNCF Voyageurs and SNCB, has achieved a significant milestone, transporting over one million passengers since its launch on December 19, 2024. This budget-friendly rail option, which connects the French and Belgian capitals in a swift three hours, has quickly garnered a strong following, with notable peaks in ridership observed during school holidays and festive seasons.
A Year of Successful Operations and Future Prospects
In its inaugural year, the OUIGO Paris-Brussels line completed an impressive 2,000 journeys. This robust performance has led SNCF Voyageurs to consider further enhancements and expansions to the service. “This success should lead to future developments that are currently under consideration,” stated a representative from SNCF Voyageurs, signaling potential growth for the popular route.
Strategic Stops and Expanded Accessibility
The OUIGO classic line trains operating between Paris and Brussels make strategic stops at Creil, Aulnoye-Aymeries, and Mons, offering three daily round trips spread throughout the day. Furthermore, since April 14, the station of Saint-Quentin has also benefited from a daily round trip, enhancing accessibility for a wider range of travelers. These stops are crucial in connecting smaller towns along the route to the major European capitals.
Affordable Fares and Family-Friendly Options
Unlike OUIGO Train Classique services within France, tickets for the Belgian route are sold for fixed dates, encouraging passengers to book in advance. This pricing strategy allows for highly competitive fares, ranging from 10 to 59 euros for a single journey. The service is particularly attractive for families, with a maximum fare of 8 euros for children under 12 and free travel for those under 4. Since its inception, nearly 50,000 children have taken advantage of these family-friendly prices, underscoring the line’s appeal to a diverse demographic.
Anniversary Promotion: 25,000 Tickets at 19 Euros
To commemorate the line’s first anniversary, OUIGO is offering a special promotion: 25,000 tickets priced at just 19 euros for travel in January and February. This initiative aims to thank loyal customers and attract new passengers, further solidifying the line’s position as an affordable and convenient travel option between Paris and Brussels.
Impact on Cross-Border Travel
The success of the OUIGO Paris-Brussels line highlights a growing demand for affordable and efficient cross-border rail travel within Europe. By offering competitive pricing and a reliable service, OUIGO has made inter-capital journeys more accessible to a broader segment of the population, contributing to increased connectivity and cultural exchange between France and Belgium.
The emphasis on advance booking and fixed-date tickets reflects a trend towards optimizing capacity and managing demand effectively, a model that has proven successful for budget airlines and is now being effectively applied to rail travel.
The positive reception of the OUIGO service also suggests a potential shift in travel preferences, with more travelers opting for environmentally friendly rail transport over other modes. As discussions about sustainable travel continue to gain prominence, the success of services like OUIGO Paris-Brussels could serve as a blueprint for future developments in European rail networks.
SNCF Voyageurs’ promise of “future developments” hints at potential expansion of the OUIGO network to other European destinations or an increase in frequency on existing popular routes. Such developments would further integrate European cities and provide more accessible travel options for both leisure and business travelers.
The collaboration between SNCF Voyageurs and SNCB has demonstrated the effectiveness of international partnerships in enhancing public transport services. This joint effort has not only met but exceeded expectations, setting a high standard for future cross-border rail initiatives.
Source: https://www.ville-rail-transports.com/actualites-mobilites/le-paris-bruxelles-version-ouigo-franchit-le-million-de-passagers/
