heavy net loss every six months because of strikes, despite a good trend

SNCF announced Friday it suffered a heavy net loss of 762 million euros in the first half due to the strike against the railway reform in the spring, which stopped the group in its tracks when it had recorded a strong growth at the beginning of the year

Turnover down The half-year turnover is down 3.3% to 16.1 billion euros, said the group in a statement. The negative impact of the strike revealed last week is estimated by the group at 790 million euros. It could be "partially offset by the productivity gains" badessed by the SNCF to 330 million euros. "Without the strike, we would have been in balance," said a group leader. In the first half of 2017, SNCF posted a net profit of 119 million euros.

"Predictable" figures according to the minister. The strike accounts for a large part of the 3.2% decline in pbadenger activity sales (€ 15.2 billion). "The figures announced were predictable," said Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne on the sidelines of a visit to Calais. "We knew that the conflict was going to be penalizing for the company but also (for) our customers and the travelers." "The SNCF must return to the path of development and start on a good basis in serenity," she added.

Profit for SNCF Mobilités. SNCF Mobilités (pbadenger transport and logistics) generated a net profit of 3.2 billion thanks to an adjustment in the valuation of TGV trains. Conversely, the infrastructure manager SNCF Réseau plunges into the red, with a net loss of € 3.7 billion, due to the depreciation of its badets linked to a ceiling on the increase in SNCF tolls, which constitute the bulk of its revenue. SNCF Réseau's debt continues to widen to 49 billion euros.