SNCF says Ouigo is already a success and carried more than 400,000 passengers during its first summer holiday period with 35% of tickets sold at less than €35 each.

Ouigo operates 62 trains a week between Marne-la-Vallée 30km east of Paris and destinations in southeast France including Lyon, Marseille and Montpellier, and SNCF says demand is split equally in both directions.

The majority of travellers are families and 20% of the seats on Ouigo services are reserved for children under 12 accompanied by an adult who are charged just €5 per trip. Tickets for Ouigo can only be purchased on line through the Ouigo website.