Repetition delays, breathless materials, angry users … Not a week goes by without the “cursed line” Clermont-Ferrand-Paris to make the headlines. In this context, Philippe Tabarot, Minister responsible for transport, has just announced that he wanted to continue the opening to competition from the balance trains in the territory (TET).
He quotes the examples of the Nantes-Bordeaux and Nantes-Lyon lines, where it would have allowed better quality of service and savings for the State.
“I congratulate myself on this result which demonstrates, by example, the concrete advances allowed by opening up to competition (…) Travelers will benefit from a better quality of service and a reinforced offer; Taxpayers will see their invoice drop, “said the minister in a statement before announcing:” As early as the next few days, we will publish the pre-information notice relating to the Paris-Clermont-Ferrand lines and Paris-Limoges-Toulouse, which marks a preliminary step before the launch of the call for tenders. »»
Competition would be scheduled for December 2029 for a period of ten years. Significant investments are announced to modernize infrastructure, with a budget of 3 billion euros, including 1 billion dedicated to the Paris-Clermont line.
Strikes accordingly?
“Who will want to position himself outside of SNCF travelers to exploit this line, considering his disastrous reputation?” Asks Stéphanie Picard, spokesperson for the Clermont-Paris line collective, who brings together 3,000 members. “My only fear is to have to deal with social movements on the part of railway workers wishing to maintain a status in a period of uncertainty. »»
Indeed, the unions have already shown themselves “firmly opposed to this competition option”. Like the very powerful CGT Cheminots section, which affirms: “The problem does not come from the operator but from the state of the network and the equipment. »»
The union also fears to see “public funding benefiting private companies without really improving the service or slowing down the increase in prices”.
Faced with the countless repeated dysfunctions of the Intercités Clermont-Ferrand-Paris line, a collective of fourteen parliamentarians from the departments of Puy-de-Dôme, Nièvre and Allier has formed to require immediate improvements. Harranted on February 4 by Philippe Tabarot, their priority remains to find solutions to make the line reluctantly while waiting for the arrival of the new oxygen oars planned in 2027. The 2 million annual passengers concerned by the line have not finished gnawing their brakes.