SNCF – Dominant in France, and expanding abroad

The French National rail system remains an effective state owned monopoly. The massive SNCF?operation also includes urban transport, coaches and major stakes in international services

The TGV, flagship product of SNCF

The TGV, flagship product of SNCF

Secret weapons: two SNCF controlled businesses, Eurostar and Thalys are not widely known to be part of its empire

Secret weapons: two SNCF controlled businesses, Eurostar and Thalys are not widely known to be part of its empire

Still fighting for control: Guillaume Pepy (right), CEO of SNCF, the public national railway company and Hubert Du Mesnil (left), CEO in charge of rail infrastructure body RFF, were key players at last autumn’s meeting of the French policy forum on rail, Les Assises. Also pictured is Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the former French transport Minister.

Still fighting for control: Guillaume Pepy (right), CEO of SNCF, the public national railway company and Hubert Du Mesnil (left), CEO in charge of rail infrastructure body RFF, were key players at last autumn’s meeting of the French policy forum on rail, Les Assises. Also pictured is Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the former French transport Minister.

France’s rail market is perceived as being one of the most difficult in Europe for any new operator to break into. And both the giant state-owned rail company and the government seem determined to keep it that way - whatever EU competition policy may say.

Although complying with European regulations requiring the separation of train operations from infrastructure, intended to make on-rail competition and involvement by the private sector easier, France’s rail network still operates...