SNCF

Jacques Chirac, the French president, pledged in his 2006 New Year Address that by 2026 no SNCF or RATP train would be powered by fossil fuels.^[1] This pledge confirms France's commitment to nuclear power for its energy needs, and already nuclear power stations generate most of the electricity used to power SNCF's trains. The Jetstar Airways fleet consisted of the following aircraft (at December 2005):. The IATA designator used by airlines in connection with these journeys is 2C. For an indication of routes served, see http://www.jetstar.com.au/routeMap/index.html. SNCF codeshares with American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, US Airways, and Emirates and in exchange, allows passengers on those flights to book rail service between Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Roissy (near Paris) and Angers, Avignon, Bordeaux, Le Mans, Lille, Lyons, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, Nimes, Poiters, Rennes, Tours, and Valence with their airline. Destinations served are:. TGV lines and the TGV technology have since spread to several other European countries plus South Korea. It should be noted that Jetstar does not fly directly from Sydney to Brisbane or vice versa.

It came to fruition in 1981, when the first TGV service from Paris to Lyon was inaugurated. . In the 1970s, SNCF began the TGV high speed train programme with the intention of creating the world's fastest railway network. At the end of 2005, it was announced that Jetstar would fly to Perth, Western Australia. The French state took 51% control of SNCF and has since put large amounts of public subsidies into the system. (See Jetstar Asia Airways). These were the:. Note that Qantas has only a 49% stake in Jetstar Asia's ownership.

The SNCF was formed in 1938 following the nationalisation of France's five main railways. On 13 December 2004, the first flight of sister airline Jetstar Asia Airways took off from its Singapore hub to Hong Kong, marking Qantas' entry into the Asian low-cost market, and its intentions in battling key competitor Singapore Airlines at its home ground. Since 1997 the tracks and other elements of French rail infrastructure have belonged to a separate government establishment, the Réseau Ferré de France; this change was intended to open the market to independent train operating companies, although none has yet appeared. On December 7 2005 it was announced that Jetstar would establish the world's first global low cost airline flying initially to destinations within 10 hours of Australia but later to operate to Europe and the Americas. In the past, SNCF owned not only the trains, but also the tracks, but this has changed due to new European Union regulations. On December 1 2005, Jetstar commenced operations from 4 Australian cities Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast to Christchurch in New Zealand. SNCF operates almost all of France's railway system, including the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, literally "high-speed train") and some segments of the RER. Qantas has a large maintenance facility at Avalon.

. All other Melbourne services use Melbourne Airport, Tullamarine. Its headquarters are situated in Paris, in the Rue du Commandant Mouchotte. Unlike other scheduled airlines, Jetstar's services from Melbourne to Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney (and return) operate from Avalon Airport, near Geelong. The current chairman of SNCF is Louis Gallois. The fleet of Boeing 717s with 125 seats is being progressively replaced with new Airbus 320s, fitted with 177 seats. About 14,000 trains are operated daily. Boarding is basically in order of arrival at the check-in desk, which is firmly closed 30 minutes before departure time.

The rail network currently consists of about 32,000 km of track, of which 1,500 km is high-speed track and 14,500 km is electrified. It does not have hubs, or offer connecting services, through baggage checking, free refreshments, or reserved seating. It employs about 180,000 people. It does not fly to any airports in the Northern Territory, or to Canberra. Its functions include operation of rail services for passengers and freight in France, and maintenance of rail infrastructure owned by RFF (Réseau Ferré de France). Jetstar does not fly Australia's busiest air routes, between Sydney and either Melbourne's international airport, Tullamarine, or Brisbane. SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français) is a major French public enterprise. International service to Christchurch, New Zealand, commenced on 1 December 2005.

Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans et du Midi (PO-Midi, formed in 1934 following the merging of the Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans and the Chemin de Fer du Midi). Jetstar's domestic passenger services began on 25 May 2004, after it commenced selling tickets in February 2004. Chemin de Fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (PLM). Although owned by Qantas, its management operates largely independently of Qantas through the company formerly known as Impulse Airlines - an airline acquired by Qantas on 20 November 2001. Chemin de Fer du Nord. Jetstar is a subsidiary of Qantas Airways, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue. Chemin de Fer de l'État (formed in 1909 following the merging of the Chemin de Fer de l'État and the Chemins de Fer de l'Ouest). Jetstar Airways is an Australian domestic low-cost airline which launched in 2004.

Chemin de Fer de l'Est.
. Boeing 787-8 (unknown quantity, likely between 10-20, to be delivered beginning in 2008). 6 Boeing 717-200. 16 Airbus A320-200 (further 7 on order expected to be delivered by June 2006).

Christchurch (Christchurch International Airport) (Services begin in December 2005). New Zealand