Question 6177 — rail transport

Summary

Ms. Julie Laernoes draws the attention of the Minister to the Minister of Regional Planning and Decentralization, responsible for transport, to the need to relaunch the Rail Pass system for the summer of 2025. The enthusiasm of young French men and women for the train no longer needs to be demonstrated. This mode of transport, which is both efficient, ecological and practical, constitutes a sustainable and responsible alternative to the use of the car. individual or aircraft on national territory. The Rail Pass experiment, implemented during the summer of 2024, allowed young people under 27 to travel unlimitedly on regional (TER) and Intercités trains, for a very affordable monthly rate. Although the number of sales was lower than initial forecasts - with 205,000 packages sold compared to 700,000 expected - this first edition cannot be interpreted as a failure. On the contrary, it has managed to attract a large audience of young travelers, responding to the challenges of accessible mobility and ecological transition. Beyond the figures, this system played a structuring role: it allowed many young people to discover the train as a means of transport, with a strong potential for long-term loyalty. User feedback praised the simplicity of access, its flexibility of use, as well as its contribution to the discovery of territories that are sometimes poorly served or unknown. The testimonies collected by the participating regions and the railway operators confirmed the interest in perpetuating and expanding this initiative. The cost of this system amounted to 15 million euros, distributed 80% to the State and 20% to the regions, the organizing authorities of the TER. This distribution has illustrated an effective collaboration between the State and local authorities, which it would be wise to renew and deepen. A new edition of the Rail Pass, in an improved version, could rely on this partnership dynamic, in particular by strengthening communication around the offer and by adjusting certain parameters such as the sales period, eligibility criteria, or even the integration of other networks transport. As part of the finance bill for 2025, the environmental group proposed an amendment (no. 699) aimed precisely at renewing this offer for the summer of 2025. This amendment was adopted in committee, reflecting broad parliamentary support. However, it was deleted from the final text following the activation of article 49 paragraph 3 of the Constitution by the Government, interrupting this progress however consensual. In a context where the fight against global warming and ecological transition must be absolute priorities, it appears essential to encourage and strengthen the use of public transport, particularly rail. An incentive policy in favor of the train is fully in line with this approach and meets the expectations of young people who are increasingly sensitive to environmental and wishing to favor more sustainable means of transport. In order to continue this dynamic and allow a greater number of young people to benefit from easier access to the train during the summer period, she would like to know if the Government plans to renew the Rail Pass system or to put in place an equivalent measure for the summer of 2025. She would also like to know the modalities envisaged, the avenues improvement under study, as well as the budgetary and partnership efforts likely to be made to guarantee the success of this system throughout the national territory.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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