FRANCE: On July 5 SNCF operated the first five trains under its ‘100% digital’ #TGVpop concept, where the destination is determined by online voting. The first services ran from Paris to Nantes, Bordeaux, Marseille and Lyon, as well as from Lyon to Paris.
Under a campaign running until August 30, a range of destinations from Paris which also includes Rennes, Montpellier, Grenoble and Mulhouse is proposed at www.TGVpop.com 14 days before departure. Those having voted for the most popular services are offered tickets four days before departure, the single fares ranging from €25 to €35 then made available the following day via www.voyages-sncf.com and other travel retailing websites.
Aimed at younger travellers, #TGVpop services do not offer onboard catering, the bar car being used as a meeting point for passengers having made contact using Twitter via @DansLeTGV or #TGVpop. When registering on the TGVpop website, customers are invited to specify their favourite leisure activities such as music, films or reading, enabling them to meet up onboard with other passengers sharing these interests.
