The “Macron buses” that have been crisscrossing France since August 2015 have created an increasingly profitable market, even if not everything is necessarily rosy in a sector undergoing significant restructuring.
The latest report from Arafer, the transport road and rail regulator, shows a positive outcome for the third quarter. From early July to late September, two million travelers used one of these buses. Since the market was liberalized, the number of travelers has been increasing exponentially, with figures reaching 5 million passengers.
Increase in occupancy rate
Even better: the occupancy rate, at 46%, is on the rise. And consequently, so is the revenue per passenger. The Rail and Road Regulatory Authority has calculated an increase of 30 cents in the average revenue per passenger per hundred kilometers; it now stands at 4 euros excluding tax.
Market consolidation
Higher occupancy rates, increase in revenue per passenger… All this can only increase the market’s turnover, and that is indeed the case with revenues of 27.7 million euros for the quarter. However, this is happening in a context of consolidation: the number of operators has decreased from five to three.
