France/ What's the current status of the Metropolitan Regional Express Service project around Nantes?

Could the Nantes conurbation be equipped with an RER? "Dominique Romann, President of Fnaut Pays de la Loire, says that the project is making no progress.

It's not going anywhere," laments Dominique Romann, of the Fédération nationale des associations d'usagers des transports (Fnaut). The President of the Republic had announced (in November 2022, editor's note) that he wanted to develop RERs in the ten main French cities. Nantes was logically included. Since then... nothing. Nantes Métropole and the Region have submitted a project to the French government requesting funding. But there has been no response, and little ambition.

What would be the point of a Metropolitan Regional Express Service (Serm)? In particular, it would enable us to offer half-hourly frequencies in the outer suburbs, to reach the metropolis: Savenay, Nort-sur-Erdre, Ancenis, Clisson, Sainte-Pazanne... We could also have a through service between Savenay and Ancenis without stopping at Nantes station to change trains. There's nothing technically to prevent this.

"Antique signage

What are the obstacles? Current infrastructures are not designed for high speeds," points out Dominique Romann. Between Savenay and Ancenis, path allocations need to be clarified in order to run trains, and signalling needs to be adapted. On the line to Pornic, we need to create sidings to allow trains to pass each other, and modernize old-fashioned signalling.

Budget? Around 600 million euros for the first phase," says Dominique Romann. Studies are underway. However, we don't have a precise schedule or timetable.

Another project is mobilizing user associations: the reinforcement of the Nantes-Tours-Lyon axis, bypassing Paris. 750 kilometers of line have been electrified between Tours and Vierzon. Previously, you had to change trains to board a diesel. 250 million euros have been invested, recalls Jean-Michel Bodin (PC), president of the Rhône Alpes Centre Océan association (Raco): "This line is a textbook case. It has immense potential for passenger and freight traffic. It is a major asset for developing the dynamics of connections between cities. Three round trips are offered every day on the Nantes-Lyon route. The aim is to push for a fourth service," emphasizes Jean-Michel Bodin. There is a demand for the train. We need to stimulate it with intelligent, relevant service and fare offers, to win over passengers.

Source: www.ouest-france.fr/