Question 9480 — rail transport

Summary

Mr. Laurent Alexandre questions the Minister Delegate to the Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, responsible for transport, on the SNCF Réseau study aimed at allowing the circulation of night trains. As part of the mobility orientation law (LOM), the State was asked to study “the development of new TET lines, ensuring their articulation with the regeneration and modernization of the rail network and by specifying, in particular, the conditions for improving the provision of night trains” (TET report). Today, the MP is asking him to specify the concrete modalities for developing the night train sections as part of the increase in modernization work (AFNT, AFSB and POLT axis). Since 2020, many users and groups have warned about the deterioration of circulation of the Paris-Rodez night train due to work on the Paris-Orléans-Limoges-Toulouse line. The night train arrives at the Paris platform, but 2 hours 30 minutes late. Night trains are necessary, the increase in the cities served announced by the committee of May 24, 2023 is essential but good operation of the lines is essential. Minister of ecological transition, Ms. Élisabeth Borne confirmed that the train night “can constitute [...] a very interesting alternative to the plane”. Prime Minister, Mrs. Borne wishes to “relaunch” night trains, following the recommendations of the latest report from the Infrastructure Orientation Committee (COI). The objectives of Law No. 2019-1428 of December 24, 2019 are included: easier, less expensive and cleaner transport. Faced with the ecological, climatic, ecological, social and industrial, the MP can only subscribe to these objectives, which must be achieved. According to figures from the Minister's magisterium, the use of sleeper beds increased by 41% between 2019 and 2022. These trains are full but they still need to be able to run. Over the coming decades, the numerous renovation works on the lines risk disrupting the future of Occitan and Pyrenees night trains. Mr. member therefore wonders if it is not urgent to rethink and support other routes. Indeed, this work, although necessary, could harm the rebirth of the night train. In the 2000s, they were already impacting the circuits and supporting the decline of night trains. This decline is also partly linked to aging materials and a disengaged state. Today, the project to “relaunch” night trains cannot be realized and be sustainable only if it highlights the strengths and no longer the weaknesses of public intervention in the railway sector. Also, the State announced 100 billion euros for rail. Announcements must lead to actions, especially solutions. The MP would therefore like to know the position of the Minister on the subject of the effective and sustainable circulation of Occitan and Pyrenean night trains in the face of accumulation of work. SNCF Réseau and the decision-making authorities should be encouraged to listen to all stakeholders, as recommended by the law for a new railway pact and as implemented by the Rail Services Monitoring Committee, in order to shed light on possible solutions. With this in mind, the General Directorate of Infrastructure, Transport and Mobility (DGITM) announced that it had ordered a study at SNCF Réseau to find solutions for the circulation of night trains. Thus, he wonders if this study will be made public to inform the thinking of all stakeholders and if so, when.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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