FRANCE: Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has pledged up to €100bn of investment in the rail network as part of efforts to improve the provision of train services, reduce regional inequalities and support ecological transition goals.
The announcement on February 24 follows the completion of a review into rail policy and funding by the Conseil d’Orientation des Infrastructures, which was established in 2013 as a forum bringing together transport specialists and government officials to set a long-term structure for making funding decisions.
Its latest report offered three investment strategies to government, of which one branded planification écologique has been selected by the Macron administration to be taken forward. This offers a funding stream worth €29·3bn for spending on ‘everyday transport’ from 2027.
The projects to be carried out will be finalised via a series of agreements between the national government and regional authorities. These are to be negotiated between March and June, and will also cover options for local funding to augment that provided from the national government and other sources such as the EU. Funds from aviation taxes and motorway tolls are also expected to be allocated to the programme.
Borne said COI’s recommendations would ensure that rail becomes the ‘backbone’ of a climate-friendly transport network across the country. But to achieve this goal, a ‘new deal for rail’ would be needed, which she said would see up to €100bn spent on renewing and rehabilitating the network by 2040. A key aim would be to reverse the deterioration of the main line network seen over recent decades, she said. As a catalyst for the programme, an extra €1·5bn is to be given to SNCF Réseau by 2027, of which €500m would be allocated for enhancements and the rest for asset renewals.
RER roll-out
Borne also confirmed the planned expansion of dedicated RER networks to cities across the country, building on the launch in December of Réseau Express Métropolitain Européen services around Strasbourg.
Detailed studies for the launch of these RER networks are to be undertaken by metro project promoter Société du Grand Paris. According to Borne, SGP has been selected to lead the work based on its experience of project management and cost control in developing the Grand Paris Express metro network now under construction.
However, SGP will be expected to work ‘in total cooperation’ with SNCF Réseau, explained SGP President Jean-François Monteils, adding that that the project promoter does not intend to become a railway infrastructure manager. Provided that parliamentary approval is granted to expand the scope of the organisation, SGP is expected to pick Lille as the first city where it will oversee development of an RER service.
Meanwhile, Borne confirmed that planned investment in high speed lines and overnight passenger trains will continue, as will plans for the development of lower-cost rural railways.
