Question 9676 — rail transport

Summary

Mr. Fabrice Barusseau alerts the Minister to the Minister of Regional Planning and Decentralization, responsible for transport, on the risks of opening passenger rail transport to competition. The state of the French rail network is worrying, its need for investment to keep it up to standard is significant, as evidenced by the round table of the Senate's territorial planning and sustainable development committee, from 18 June 2025, on the opening to competition of rail passenger transport. The stakeholders share the need to improve the quality of service so that French rail is attractive. Faced with these shared findings, there remain serious concerns about the ability of the SNCF operator to remain in the race to open up rail transport to competition. The list is long: working conditions, social dumping, abandonment of unprofitable lines, network fragmentation, clarity of the offer, security, risk of underinvestment, burden on communities. Since the 2000s, the opening of rail to competition has been promoted without half-measures. For rail, it was the miracle solution that would make it possible to reduce prices, while improving service. Finally, we are witnessing a dismantling of freight, an increase in price and low-noise privatization of the service to the public. The regional councils practically finance the maintenance of secondary lines on their own; the Court of Auditors also points out a risk for regional public finances. Adapting to opening up to competition will be to the detriment of service to the public. The French rail network and its historic operator are an opportunity in the face of the climate emergency. He is essential to promote low-carbon modes of transport, first and foremost rail transport. The train is in fact a major lever for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while guaranteeing a quality and accessible mobility offer for users and taxpayers. Faced with the SNCF's difficulties in remaining competitive, the MP wishes to know the State's guarantees so that the French are not not the losers of market liberalization. He asks what actions are planned by the Government to ensure the working conditions of railway workers and a quality offer in terms of network maintenance, development of modal shift and capacity management.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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