On April 1, 2021, the local public company (SPL) TransFensch in charge of the management of urban public transport in the Thionville region and the Val de Fensch was dissolved after a slow agony. The choice of the company Keolis to succeed him in the establishment of a public service delegation operating the Smitu network (Mixed Syndicate of Urban Transport Thionville Fensch) had, for its part, been recorded shortly before, on February 17. It is thanks to this change of operator that the question of the renewal of free transport in force since 2009 for students, job seekers, people with disabilities and those over 65 years of age has was put to a vote at the last city council meeting, Monday July 5. Only two municipalities (Thionville and Illange) out of the 35 currently apply this targeted system. But faced with climate issues, “it is up to us to prioritize the means to extend this free service”, launched Brigitte Vaïsse, municipal opposition councilor, thus opening the debate around a question essential to the reduction of greenhouse gases. tight. “Everything free is not on the agenda,” replied Pierre Cuny, believing that if “there is political unanimity in Thionville”, this requires “a collective discussion within Smitu”.
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Attractiveness of the territory
However, the mayor of the city recalled that access to mobility and in particular to the BHNS (high-level service bus) which will be set up in 2026, “will participate in the attractiveness of the territory and make the city more student ”. In fact, 600 more students (ie 1,600 in total) will arrive in Thionville within three years. For him, free public transport for young people should be able to extend to neighboring municipalities likely to accommodate them such as Yutz and Terville. But beyond the student question, unlimited access to public transport remains “an objective”. When? Will this free access be total as in Luxembourg or partial as in Nancy where the network is unlimited access for all, on weekends? “Today the priority of Smitu is the construction (and the financing) of the BRT,” recalls Pierre Cuny. The ticket office brings in 1.9 million euros annually and constitutes an important part of the revenue. But its operation also comes at a cost. It is all these arbitrations that will have to be tackled in the next five years. The discussion is in the air.
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