(Nearly) unlimited rail travel in France this summer for €49/month, but not for everyone

[Adlington]

The unlimited travel will apply to all journeys in July and August taken on the TER and Intercity trains, however only those age 27 or younger will be eligible for the discounted pass.
High-speed TGV trains and travel in France’s most populous region, Ile-de-France – home of the capital, Paris – are both excluded from the rail offer and require an additional ticket.
The new pass is expected to go on sale in June through SNCF Connect site.
Source
It it not clear at the moment whether, apart from the age, there will be other restrictions, e.g. French nationality or residence.

 

[rvdborgt]

It it not clear at the moment whether, apart from the age, there will be other restrictions, e.g. French nationality or residence.

French nationality or residence requirements are forbidden under EU law. They could require an EU nationality or residence.

 

[Teebs]

French nationality or residence requirements are forbidden under EU law. They could require an EU nationality or residence.

Are you sure about that? I think you're allowed to discriminate on grounds of residence in the EU, but not nationality.

 

[RT4038]

Are you sure about that? I think you're allowed to discriminate on grounds of residence in the EU, but not nationality.

Sounds more likely. When the UK was in the EU there were various tickets (most notably including the Concessionary fares schemes on buses) which had residency qualification, but none with nationality.

 

[rvdborgt]

Are you sure about that? I think you're allowed to discriminate on grounds of residence in the EU, but not nationality.

EU Regulation 2021/782 is a bit stricter on this than its predecessor 1371/2007. In article 5 it says:

Without prejudice to social tariffs, railway undertakings, ticket vendors or tour operators shall offer contract conditions and tariffs to the general public without direct or indirect discrimination on the basis of the passenger’s nationality or of the place of establishment within the Union of the railway undertaking, ticket vendor or tour operator.

So unless something is qualified as a social tariff, no discrimination is allowed.

 

[The exile]

Sounds more likely. When the UK was in the EU there were various tickets (most notably including the Concessionary fares schemes on buses) which had residency qualification, but none with nationality.

Although it may be that a residency qualification at country level is not permitted, but at regional (or lower) level is (as citizens of one state as a whole are not placed at.an advantage compared to others)

EU Regulation 2021/782 is a bit stricter on this than its predecessor 1371/2007. In article 5 it says:

So unless something is qualified as a social tariff, no discrimination is allowed.

No discrimination on the grounds of nationality….

 

[rvdborgt]

Although it may be that a residency qualification at country level is not permitted, but at regional (or lower) level is (as citizens of one state as a whole are not placed at.an advantage compared to others)

AFAIK such discrimination is permitted, at least by EU legislation.

 

[185]

French nationality or residence requirements are forbidden under EU law. They could require an EU nationality or residence.

Although outside the EU customs & VAT area, Spain's EU Canary Islands have Bonoficacion schemes where tourist pay four times the price/fare of locals. A €2 bus ticket costs €8 for tourists in some places, same with Fred Olsen Ferries and inter island airlines. The EU Solvit department didn't intervene when alerted to this.

 

[rvdborgt]

Although outside the EU customs & VAT area, Spain's EU Canary Islands have Bonoficacion schemes where tourist pay four times the price/fare of locals. A €2 bus ticket costs €8 for tourists in some places, same with Fred Olsen Ferries and inter island airlines. The EU Solvit department didn't intervene when alerted to this.

If this applies to all tourists, including tourists from other regions in Spain, then that is allowed, since it's not discrimination based on the country of residence.

 

[Adlington]

Let's leave the discrimination issue to one side (for a moment, at least...)
Apparently the decision to restrict the availability of this offer to a certain age group and to exclude the most populous area was in response to the German €49 (or thereabout) ticket, which caused overcrowding on the German trains.

 

[Planesandtrain]

Let's leave the discrimination issue to one side (for a moment, at least...)
Apparently the decision to restrict the availability of this offer to a certain age group and to exclude the most populous area was in response to the German €49 (or thereabout) ticket, which caused overcrowding on the German trains.

The real problem of course is that off the main TGV corridors SNCF don't offer enough trains to be able to cope with the demand as is. Region Grande Est is even introducing mandetory reservations on TER! In Germany we have a general hourly frequency on most regional lines, in France you get a train for breakfast, lunch, and maybe dinner if you're very lucky. Oh and one of them might be a bus for part of the way with no connection at the other end.

 

[rvdborgt]

The real problem of course is that off the main TGV corridors SNCF don't offer enough trains to be able to cope with the demand as is. Region Grande Est is even introducing mandetory reservations on TER! In Germany we have a general hourly frequency on most regional lines, in France you get a train for breakfast, lunch, and maybe dinner if you're very lucky.

Although Grand Est do seem to know what to do if you have a lot of passengers, as they've shown on e.g. Basel-Strasbourg: run more trains. So I do wonder what the problem is between Paris and Strasbourg/Mulhouse.