Christian Estrosi, having returned as the chief magistrate of his city, has not forgotten his regional responsibilities.
It’s as the deputy president that he unveiled the new security measures, already partially implemented (the remaining part will be gradually), for the TER and trains in the region. He intends them to be stringent.
Almost a year after the attacks, the debate on security in the region has been reignited.
The investment amounted to 18 million, 12 of which went into human resources.
Firstly: tackling fraud in transport. Christian Estrosi, now Deputy President of the regional authority, wishes to put an end to this issue, which costs a significant amount of money every year.
The fraud rate was estimated at 20%, considering that each percentage point corresponds to a shortfall of 800,000 euros in revenue…
The most recent figures show a reduction to 12.7%: that’s an improvement, but not enough yet!
To address this, the PACA region is working on two fronts: the installation of security gates and the strengthening of the teams.
Security gates in stations
40 is the number of security gates currently being installed in PACA stations. Riquier, Nice Thiers, Saint-Augustin are part of the first wave… and 80 more are expected to follow by the end of 2018.
Christian Estrosi does not wish to lead a region that lets things slide. According to him, “the region faces too many problems” concerning “train punctuality, strikes, and security” simultaneously. For him, some problems are no longer acceptable.
Strengthening the security teams
To combat this, he aims to refinance and strengthen teams that are largely mobile, composed since November of 3 patrol groups (railway, control agents, and station teams). Beyond their mission to fight fraud, these teams also bring their experience in managing flows, and providing service to travelers.
Mandatory training
According to Mr. Barbier, head of rail security for the Côte d’Azur, these teams receive specific training. They use appropriate equipment that allows them to handle any situation while staying within legal boundaries.
The approach around these teams shows that there is good synergy and good relations between different authorities. This allows for being “more effective,” and the feedback is “positive”.
Are we heading towards a more peaceful future for travelers? The answer will come in the next few months.
Thomas Lagesse, EdJ
