On July 9, the government presented its choices regarding transport infrastructures, notably including the treatment of the “railway junction” of Nice on the same level as that of Marseille. This project involves creating a new railway infrastructure between Nice and Cannes, and two new stations, including the one at the Nice Saint-Augustin Multimodal Exchange Hub, representing a total investment of 4.2 billion Euros.
This new infrastructure would address daily service challenges, by doubling the frequency of regional express trains (TER) and improving reliability, as the circulation of both TGVs and TERs causes disruptions.
Yesterday, the steering committee (COPIL) for the new Provence Côte d’Azur line project met at the regional Prefecture to confirm the commitment of elected officials to the planned priority infrastructures, for both Nice and Marseille, and to schedule the start of consultation and information phases regarding the project.
On this occasion, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis and the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes acknowledged the scope of this first phase of the New Railway Line, and jointly emphasized their desire to see these works commence on the Nice-Cannes link as soon as possible, and at the same pace as the Marseille project.
They also reminded that this sub-phasing of the railway line, accepted to enable progress, should not overshadow the goal of completing the Le Muy-Nice section at the earliest opportunity. Similarly, improvements to the existing line between Mandelieu and Ventimiglia must begin in parallel, to enhance our connection with Italy.
Christian Estrosi and Eric Ciotti, speaking with one voice, stated:
“We also remind that the ‘program’ presented by RFF is neither satisfactory nor sufficient. The Côte d’Azur needs a comprehensive project from Marseille to Nice and Italy, and it is indeed the entire region, not just Nice or the Alpes-Maritimes, that needs this link to Italy. The handling of the Nice and Marseille nodes, on which we have made progress today, must only be the first phase of the Marseille-Nice-Italy link.
Finally, we stress that the Côte d’Azur represents 50% of the TER services in the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur Region. The transportation needs are immense, and the infrastructure is insufficient. Regardless of this new infrastructure, it is urgent to improve the coastal line from Mandelieu-Nice-Monaco-Ventimiglia.”
The ball is now in the Transport Ministry’s court.
