FRANCE: Transport Minister Clément Beaune has signed the Déclaration d’Utilité Publique enabling the start of work on the first two phases of the Ligne Nouvelle Provence Côte d’Azur programme to expand the heavily used Marseille – Nice corridor.
The project approved on October 18 includes a number of elements. The remodelling of the hub at Marseille Saint-Charles will include the construction of a new subterranean station, facilitating the RER Métropolitain plan to increase the frequency of regional services while reducing delays across the network.
Works between Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and Hyères will include remodelling of Toulon and La Pauline-Hyères stations to improve regional services.
The junction with the Cannes – Grasse line will be improved, and new tracks provided at Cannes and Antibes stations. A four-track station will be built at Nice airport, while Nice station will be remodelled to improve punctuality.
The works will enable trains to run between Cannes, Nice and Menton every 10 min at peak times.
The Marseille – Ventimiglia High Performance work package will see the installation of ETCS Level 2 on the route, which will be controlled from Marseille.
