The management of SNCF, heavily battered by the regional president’s statements, responded diplomatically: “I am ready to continue these discussions which have already gone quite far,” says Mr. Lacroix, who has “proposed to Mr. Estrosi to go beyond the contractual framework.”
The reaction of the former Vice-President of the PACA Region (under Michel Vauzelle’s presidency) Jean-Yves Petit, who was in charge of Transport, is more direct,
He denounces the political instrumentalization: “Christian Estrosi’s stance strongly resembles that of the hard-right faction. Will it continue until the official opening of the TERs to competition in 3 years?” he wonders.
A great expert on the matter due to his former positions, he rejects the criticisms the new president directed at the previous management: “The president of the PACA Region criticizes the previous majority and brings up proposals. Clearly, he doesn’t yet grasp the regional transport dossier,” he asserted about certain claims that do not align with the facts as detailed further on…
Christian Estrosi asserts and Jean-Yves Petit specifies:
1) the creation of a European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation with the Liguria and Monaco Region which was already created for the previous majority
2) deploying regional buses during work on the Cannes/Grasse line, which has always been done in this context… nothing new!
3) assessing the relevance of each mode of transport on other regional routes, by road and especially buses… We should not pit modes of transport against each other. Instead, a transport plan based on intermodality (train, bus, bike, car, …) should be implemented.
4) the creation of an Agency to organize certain lines (which ones?). The Regional Transport Authority of PACA has existed for 3 years and operates the Provence Railways… So nothing new!
5) involving mobility stakeholders in the development of a regional strategy. That’s good! But it would have been better before the break with SNCF. Moreover, the size of the new line committees, equivalent to one or more departments, that are supposed to meet in the coming weeks, shows little interest in consultation.
Jean-Yves Petit also requests the restoration of the reality under the previous majority: “The Region did more than fulfill its role as an organizing authority with numerous financial efforts.”
He lists them (period 2002/2014): the offer increased by nearly 38%; attendance increased by nearly 55% (more than the offer!); direct revenues increased by 66%; the cost per train kilometer increased by 48% and he recalls that SNCF has always paid penalties, 7 million euros in 2014.
To improve daily life for travelers:
300 million euros for the purchase of new trains, including the latest bi-mode Regiolis (diesel/electric) automotives for the lines between Marseille and Avignon and the double-decker regio2N carriages (1000 seats standing/sitting) for the Côte d’Azur
Funding of over 40 million euros for adaptation and modernization work on train maintenance facilities in Marseille-Blancarde, Cannes-la-Bocca, and Avignon and storage areas (Les Arcs, Menton, Miramas, …)
Contribution to the renovation of several major stations (Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Toulon, …), work to make them accessible for people with reduced mobility, and promoting intermodality with buses, cars, and bicycles (secured parks)
Investment, well beyond its scope of responsibilities, in the modernization of railways for regional trains. The Avignon – Carpentras line was reopened to passenger traffic in April 2015, third tracks have been created on the busiest sections (Marseille – Aubagne at the end of 2014, Antibes – Cagnes in 2013), other works have tripled train numbers (Toulon – Hyères for passengers – November 2015)
He also reminds that more than 160,000 travelers hold a Zou! card, 20,000 of whom have given up using cars for regional public transportation.
Conclusion: on January 1, 2017, the Region will be the sole organizing authority for interurban transport (rail and road).
Therefore, instead of getting lost in futile polemics by claiming achievements that are not his, Christian Estrosi would do better to propose solutions.
He has both the duty to do so and the power to do it. Stop the talking and… all aboard!
