The elected representatives of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region (PACA) adopted Thursday by an absolute majority The deliberation proposed by the Regional Executive aimed at awarding the Private Group Transdev the Ter Marseille-Toulon-Nice line.
Le Monde with AFP
“It’s a historical step and a first in France,” welcomed the President of the Region, Renaud Muserier (Republicans). The elected representatives of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region endorsed Thursday, 28 October The attribution of the operation of the Marseille-Nice railway line to the private group Transdev from 2025, ending, for the first time in France , at the monopoly of SNCF.
In the plenary assembly, the elected representatives of the region adopted the deliberation proposed by the regional executive to award Transdev the TER Marseille-Toulon-Nice line. From September 7 the Executive had expressed this choice that dismissed the historical public operator. Three companies were in the running to win this link via Toulon: the SNCF, the French private transport group Transdev and Thello, a subsidiary of the public company of Italian railways, Trenitalia.
By assigning this line TER, which represents 10% of the regional traffic in number of proposed trains, in Transdev (a subsidiary at 66% of the Caisse des Dépôts), the PACA region is the first of France to end the monopoly of SNCF. Mr. Muselier promised through this competition an improvement in services for users with a punctual rate at “92% in 2025” and a cancellation rate of 2%. In 2016, by region, 20% of trains were late and 10% of trains were canceled. Always depending on the region, “traffic will be doubled, from seven daily returns to 14, for” an equivalent cost “. The ten-year concession contract is estimated at 870 million euros.
TransDev undertakes in particular to wear 7 to 14 the number of daily backwards when it comes to orders in July 2025; And “for an equivalent price”, ensures the region. By then the new operator promises to build infrastructure, such as a maintenance center in Nice, and equip themselves with new Rames Alstom. He will have to negotiate with trade union organizations more versatility of railwaymen. Agents working at least 50% of the time on this line will necessarily pass at Transdev with their rights, the others will have the choice.
“Competition too rushed”
A second batch regarding the operation of the “Azur” lines including the links between the Arcs-Draguignan (Var) and Ventimiglia (Italy), as well as the Nice-Tende and Grasnes-Grasse lines in the Alpes-Maritimes, was also submitted to the vote. Only in the running, the SNCF retained this contract estimated at 1.5 billion euros, which represents 23% of regional traffic.