TGV prices to increase by 3.2%

The SNCF has announced that ticket prices for TGV and interregional train services will increase by 3.2% from the start of January 2012.

A jump in the reduced VAT rate from 5.5% to 7% is being blamed for the hike, which the SNCF say will represent ‘an average increase of 60 cents’ for users of the high-speed lines, including Téoz and Lunéa night trains.

The new VAT rate has been determined by the government’s second set of austerity measures, announced in November earlier this year.

A spokesperson for the SNCF pointed out that "This is the smallest increase since 1999”. President Guillaume Pepy recently insisted that the company is committed to reasonable rates. "An increase in VAT has been passed by Parliament, but our goal is to keep prices low", he said.

Following the recent promises by the SNCF to keep train prices in France accessible to all, the company has offered to freeze prices of fixed-rate subscriptions (forfaits) for regular commuters and students.

The new pricing structure will come into force from January 3rd.