Between the supporters of the northern route, which should pass through Arbois and the A8, and those supporting the metropolitan route via Marseille and Toulon, everyone has maintained their stance. “Everyone agrees that a regional compromise is needed on this issue,” Jean-Louis Borloo confided yesterday. “This line is essential when we see the traffic forecasts to Italy.” This line would reintegrate Nice, Marseille, and Toulon into the European networks. The goal: a Nice-Paris journey of 4 hours instead of 5 hours and 30 minutes today. Toulon would then be 3 hours and 30 minutes from the capital, and it would take 1 hour and 5 minutes to travel from Marseille to Nice.
The government and local authorities have decided to appoint a mediator, Yves Cousquer, to unblock the situation. The State should alone choose the route. Regardless of the route chosen, the issue of funding remains a problem. This new line is expected to cost 8 billion euros if it passes through the north according to the French Rail Network, and more than 11 billion for the metropolitan route. Yesterday, the minister announced his intention.
