Overview
- Lawmakers approved the mandate with a deferred start on December 31, 2027, as part of a transport framework bill.
- SNCF Connect, the main app used to buy rail tickets in France, would list and sell offers from competitors such as Trenitalia and Renfe so riders can compare in one place.
- Backers say a single checkout will make it easier to find the best price and schedule without switching between several apps.
- The national operator pushed back, saying no French or EU rule currently obliges a distributor to sell competitors’ tickets, and some experts warned a single app could entrench a powerful gatekeeper.
- The broader bill also proposes channeling motorway toll revenue into rail upgrades and adds a right to continue a trip after a missed connection when tickets are bought in one transaction.