The submission of the report by the Commission on the Future of Territorial Balance Trains, chaired by deputy (PS) Philippe Duron and composed of parliamentarians, regional officials, and experts, aimed at clarifying the offer of Intercity trains, has ignited local prerogatives and parochial interests.
The barrage of criticism began immediately despite the ecumenical statement by the Secretary of State for Transport, Alain Vidales: “This report, which does not, as it stands, commit the Government, will now be presented to the relevant parliamentary committees.”
The Duron report on territorial balance trains challenges the Intercity train connection between Marseille and Nice, on the grounds that this line already has TGV and TER services.
A candidate for the presidency of the PACA Region, Christian Estrosi could not ignore this cause.
Now advocating for the alliance between Marseille and Nice (“the two capitals of the Region” – as he says), which he had always fiercely resisted, he recalled the intolerable situation of rail service in Provence-Alpes-Cรดte d’Azur: “The State cannot abandon what contributes to linking two major cities of our Region and their populations.”
“In light of the transport shortage in our region, the most isolated in France, this unacceptable decision,” he said in association with his new ally Renaud Muselier, who will support him as the head of the list for the Bouches-du-Rhรดne.
Joining them, the president of the Alpes-Maritimes Departmental Council, Eric Ciotti, stated, “This removal, if it becomes effective, would severely reduce the Alpes-Maritimes’ direct rail connections to all the cities in Languedoc-Roussillon, Midi-Pyrรฉnรฉes, and Aquitaine, which would be inconceivable.”
In fact, no decision has been made yet, as the Secretary of State for Transport reminds us: “The Government will present a roadmap at the end of June, in several stages, including essential consultations with the Regions. This roadmap will take into account the objectives of restoring TET financing, maintaining the right to mobility, and territorial planning.”
No doubt the debates are just beginning!
