The greenway project between Montluçon and Évaux-les-Bains, on the old railway line between the city on the banks of the Cher and Eygurande (Corrèze), seems to be on track. Various partners, including Montluçon Community and Creuse Confluence, are now around the table to discuss its future.
In gestation since 2015, the greenway project between Montluçon and Évaux-les-Bains put back on track
Towards a new stage for the project
The elected community members were to, this Monday, December 21, allow the two communities to take a new step, by approving a grouping of orders agreement allowing in particular to launch a study phase.
“We are going to make € 150,000 available for this phase,” explains Francis Nouhant, vice-president in charge of transport. “The route is 27 km long: 15 km are on Montluçon Community, 12 km on Creuse Confluence. The distribution would therefore be 55% for Montluçon Community, and 45% Creuse Confluence. ”
Aware of the advantages of such an achievement, the elected officials unanimously validated the continuation of the project. Frédéric Laporte, president of Montluçon Community, evoking a “real structuring pedestrian and cycling project”. “It is a path which is extremely important”, also maintains Samir Triki, vice-president in charge of culture.
The Montluçon area, thanks to this greenway, would link the east and the west but also the north and the south of France. It is not nothing when we talk about tourism.
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“Reason has to take over to open up the region and bring in people. Creuse Confluence and Montluçon Community must be able to move forward hand in hand. “
Why Montluçon Community supports the reopening of the Bordeaux-Lyon line
Do not sound the death knell for the railway
If all the elected officials share this opinion, many express reservations about the downgrading of the track by the SNCF which would prevent any return of the rail one day.
Because if the line between Montluçon and Évaux-les-Bains is still integrated into the national rail network (although inactive), a downgrading procedure led by the SNCF is currently underway and should be completed at the end of 2021, sounding the death knell for rail .
“If this track is downgraded by the SNCF, it’s a final closure, it’s over, there will be no return. And this path has an important stake, launches Corinne Chirol, elected domératoise.
The railway line must be privileged, guarded, maintained. The green way, I hear it, I understand it, I am rather in favor of it. But the definitive hold on the railway does not seem realistic to me today in the face of the challenges that await us on the climatic level.
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A feeling shared by Christian Sanvoisin, vice-president in charge of transport infrastructure, who does not wish, either, with a downgrading, to permanently close the door to potential rail projects: “The European Union has declared that 2021 will be the end of the year. European year of rail. We all agree that something must be done about greenhouse gases. So is it relevant to downgrade this path? Quite frankly, I will tell you no. “
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“Downgrading, a decision that belongs to SNCF”
The president of Montluçon community, Frédéric Laporte, underlines: “The downgrading is a decision which belongs to the SNCF. We are suspended on their decision. ”
“Right now there is no train. This greenway project is part of our bicycle master plan with which we will provide the inhabitants of the community with real routes so that they can travel by bicycle. These are bicycle highways that we want to try to set up between the different communities. That, I believe and it’s tomorrow morning. While the train projects in 50 years … “
Frédéric Laporte (president of Montluçon Community)
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Before concluding: “We will nevertheless annotate the minutes to ask if we can make this green lane without downgrading the way. “
Mail. The Codérail, Committee for the Defense and Development of Rail in the Montluçon and Val de Cher region, wrote to Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Ecological Transition, in charge of Transport, to oppose the SNCF Montluçon-Évaux-les-Bains line decommissioning project.
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Laura Morel
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