On 24 February, Prime Minister of France and former Minister of Transport, Élisabeth Borne presented the nation’s future plan for transport, which prioritises a 100 billion EUR investment in railway infrastructure.
Borne said that rail is “the backbone of mobility” and is key to a successful ecological transition. The government of France is thus committing to a New Rail Deal in collaboration with SNCF, the European Union and local authorities to invest 100 billion EUR in its infrastructure by 2040.
This investment will help modernise the nation’s aging rail network in order to deliver more reliable and frequent services.
“For our fellow citizens, modernising the network will mean more trains, better punctuality and shorter journey times. It is under these conditions, and under these conditions only, that the train will be fully an attractive and credible alternative to the car.”
In addition, the funds will further develop the current network by adding new lines and better connections to existing stations to ensure all communities can conveniently access public transport.
These improvements are to enable more passengers to choose to travel by train rather than private cars, and will thus reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.
“Talking about metropolitan RERs is not just talking about trains, it's about building complete transport networks for the French. It means getting closer to a station or developing public transport where it is absent. It is when our fellow citizens can find regular, easily accessible and reliable public transit that they will be able to reduce their car use.
“I know that we are deciding on an important investment, but it is necessary and essential, to improve the quality of our transport, to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, to continue to develop a solid industrial sector, because 80% of railway investments benefit French companies.”
The Prime Minister’s full speech can be viewed here.
