coaches liberalization: more than 1,300 jobs in six months – Le Figaro

The liberalization of coach transport made possible by Macron law superior to 100 km trips helped create “1,300 jobs” and carry “1.5 million passengers,” says a report Strategy of France published Tuesday.

“based on the data provided by the bus companies, six months after opening (in the competition) 1,300 direct jobs have been created and about 1.5 million passengers, “says the report of France Strategy, reflection body attached to Matignon. Data refer to the more than 100 km lines, the others being subject to approval of the regulator, the Arafer, in case of referral.

A total of “734 city pairs” of metropolis enjoy direct service, that is to say, without change of coach, outside the public initiative links. All of which leads to the report that the network “is growing at a rapid rate and comparable to what was observed in Germany after liberalization” of January 2013.

The long distance bus transportation has authorized under the Macron law, adopted on 10 July. The ministry then said in late July that he hoped “to create 2,000 to 3,000 direct jobs over the next 18 months, which will be added to the induced activity on tourism and local commerce.”

In France, the sector currently has seven main players. It is dominated by four players, two of which centered on the mainland (German FlixBus and Isilines, a subsidiary of Transdev), each serving over 35% of city-pairs.

The other two serve to both France and abroad (Alsa, a Spanish company, and Eurolines, a subsidiary of Transdev). They cover about 30% of city-pairs.

Two other players (Ouibus, a subsidiary of SNCF, and Starshipper, an association of French SMEs) each serve a little over 10% of city pairs. The Megabus Columbia is it a more withdrawn position (8% of city pairs).

Given the price and the observed travel times, coaches seem “more competitive with car sharing or car personal with rail services, “further notes France Strategy.

” According to our surveys (…) the average price per kilometer of a bus ride (4.5 cents per km) is almost always lower than carpooling (about 6 cents / km) and still well below the minimum price of a similar train ride (10 cents per kilometer for the cheapest tickets). “

But on journeys of less than 100 km to be authorized by the Arafer “TER and intercity buses would be exactly the same niche,” however warns France Strategy.

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