HEC Graduate and Former Ouigo Creator Rachel Picard Challenges SNCF with New TGV Venture 'Velvet'

A new era of competition is dawning on France's high-speed rail network. Rachel Picard, a seasoned executive with deep experience at the historic railway operator SNCF, is poised to disrupt the market with her new venture, Velvet. Having previously been considered for a leadership role at SNCF, Picard's departure paved the way for her entrepreneurial ambitions. Now, with her partner Tim Jackson, she is set to launch France's first independent TGV company, aiming to bring a fresh approach to services on key Atlantic routes. This move, reported by Le Figaro, signifies a bold challenge to the established order. While Western media might focus on the business strategy, for France, this is about the future of public service and national pride in its engineering prowess. The idea of a private entity competing with the SNCF on its home turf is a significant development, sparking debate about innovation and accessibility in rail travel. Velvet's arrival, with its distinctive livery, promises to inject new energy into the TGV experience.

“

But the unions vetoed it because they found Rachel Picard too liberal.