We have reported on this innovative train on a number of occasions and Ouigo Classic was finally launched yesterday.
Check our piece from last month for details of the first two routes (these are from Paris to Nantes and Lyon).
What makes Ouigo Classic special is its use of elderly Corail rolling stock and locomotives. The new train has longer journey times thanks to using conventional, rather than high-speed, lines. But this means that rock bottom fares are possible.
SNCF executive Alain Krakovitch tweeted that “no tickets will cost more than €30 [one-way]… 60,000 tickets have already been sold.”
However yesterday’s launch wasn’t without its issues.
Jean-Marc De Jaeger of Le Figaro tweeted about the first train from Lyon and its trouble-free arrival at Paris Austerlitz.
But the 1158 departure to Nantes was marred by a trade union demonstration on the tracks. This delayed its departure.
Le départ de 11h58 vers Nantes est retardé en raison de manifestants sur les voies. La création d'une nouvelle filiale, Oslo, déplaît aux syndicats de cheminots. pic.twitter.com/MdcEvJhaFq
— Jean-Marc De Jaeger (@JeanMarc_DJ) April 11, 2022
He wrote:
“The creation of a new [SNCF] subsidiary, Oslo [the original code name for Ouigo Classic] displeases the railway unions.”
Does UK rail have anything similar ?
Not exactly. Our nearest equivalent would be Lumo operating London Kings Cross to Edinburgh.
But on the other hand Lumo deploys modern trainsets and that in turn equates to higher fares.
