Several years ago in 2015, the incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron, during his tenure as the Minister of Economy, introduced a new policy allowing scheduled, low-cost bus services to operate between French cities. His objective was to democratize intercity travel by making it more economically accessible to everyone. Prior to this decision, it was prohibited by law to operate a scheduled bus service that traveled more than 100 kilometers.
This change sparked a revolution in France's bus travel industry. Today, numerous companies provide bus networks within France and services extending to various European destinations. A common feature of these travel services, like most in France, is that they usually transit via the capital city, Paris.
The top two bus companies serving France are:
FlixBus
FlixBus, a German firm, boasts the largest and most comprehensive network across Europe. It provides bus services to approximately 1400 destinations in over 27 European cities.
Like their competitors, the green coloured buses offer low fares to all destinations, and also:
free wifi (via 4G)
toilets
power outlets in seats
Snacks/drinks
FlixBus acquired another bus operator called IsiLines and integrated their routes into their own network.
Flixbus also operate several night buses crossing France and Europe.
NOTE: We will publish shortly a review of Flixbus
BlaBlaCar
BlaBlaCar, a subsidiary of the French railroads SNCF, provides bus and car pooling services across Europe. The network may not be as extensive as that of Flixbus, but competitive forces are contributing to its steady growth. At present, the BlaBlaCar network spans 46 European cities, often aligning their routes with the railroad lines to provide integrated services.
BlaBlaCar is a popular long-distance carpooling platform that connects drivers with empty seats to passengers traveling in the same direction. It was founded in France in 2006. The platform operates as an online marketplace, allowing drivers to offer available seats in their vehicles and passengers to book those seats for a shared journey.
The name "BlaBlaCar" comes from the concept of varying levels of conversation during carpooling trips, with "BlaBla" representing the different degrees of conversation a passenger might desire, ranging from quiet ("Bla") to chatty ("BlaBlaBla"). This concept reflects the social aspect of the platform, as passengers and drivers have the opportunity to interact and share experiences during their journey.
Over the years, BlaBlaCar has expanded its services beyond long-distance carpooling. In some regions, it offers short-distance urban ridesharing, airport transfers, and bus services in collaboration with local transportation providers. This diversification has allowed BlaBlaCar to cater to a wider range of travel needs.
In summary, BlaBlaCar is a well-established carpooling platform that connects drivers and passengers for shared long-distance journeys. It offers a cost-effective and social travel option while prioritizing safety and convenience for its users.
BlaBlaCar aims to deliver affordable travel options to their customers by offering some of the lowest possible fares, giving travellers the flexibility to choose between their trains or buses.
BlaBlaCar made significant moves in November 2018 when it acquired the long-distance coach operator Ouibus from SNCF, the French national railway company. This transaction led to SNCF becoming a shareholder in BlaBlaCar. Following the acquisition, Ouibus was rebranded as BlaBlaBus, integrating it into the BlaBlaCar brand.
In addition to the acquisition, BlaBlaCar secured $114 million in funding from SNCF and its existing investors, further bolstering its financial resources. This investment allowed BlaBlaCar to pursue its expansion plans and enhance its services.
Continuing its growth strategy, BlaBlaCar expanded its reach by acquiring Busfor, Russia's largest bus booking platform, in 2019. This acquisition allowed BlaBlaCar to enter the Russian market and strengthen its presence in the region. By incorporating Busfor into its portfolio, BlaBlaCar aimed to provide a comprehensive travel solution for users in Russia, offering both carpooling and bus services.
These strategic moves by BlaBlaCar highlight the company's commitment to diversifying its offerings and expanding its global presence in the long-distance travel market.
The services offered by BlaBlaCar include:
Free wifi (accessed via 4G, but with limitations)
Power outlets integrated into seats
Real-time tracking of any bus on their website
Click here to access the Ouibus web site (pan-European)
Alternative Options
There exist several other companies, although their coverage in France is not as extensive. These companies are pan-European operators that make stops in a few major French cities along their routes. One such example is the Spanish bus service Alsa, which has stops in approximately 13 French cities, enabling travel between these destinations.
Pricing
The ticket prices offered by these companies are highly competitive when compared to other modes of transportation such as trains and airplanes. Only car-pooling tends to be slightly cheaper. The prices depend on the time of day and the level of demand for a specific route.
For instance, if we consider the route from Le Havre (Normandy) to Paris, ticket prices can range from €5 to €20 for a one-way journey. In comparison, a train ticket may cost around €15 to €35 if you search for good deals, depending on the company and the duration of the trip.
These bus services employ smart pricing strategies. When you browse prices for a specific city pair, you may notice that the fares can change if you revisit the same search later. Moreover, as the departure date approaches and the bus fills up with passengers, the ticket prices tend to rise accordingly. Hence, booking later may result in a more costly trip due to the increased demand for available seats.
Convenient Booking Options
All of these companies provide smartphone applications that allow customers to book their tickets directly from their phones. Additionally, these apps can serve as digital tickets, eliminating the need for a physical copy.