Île-de-France is pressuring RATP and SNCF to reimburse Navigo in full

How will Ile-de-France users of the RATP and SNCF transport networks be compensated, hard hit by the continuous strike movement that started on December 5, 2019? This question primarily concerns the 4 million owners of a Navigo card (monthly cost 75.20 euros) to circulate in Ile-de-France.

The region’s president, Valérie Pécresse, who also heads Ile-de-France Mobilités, the authority that organizes and finances public transport, is campaigning for a full reimbursement in December 2019. This is the message she will send directly to the representatives of the management of the RATP and the SNCF whom it meets this Wednesday, without waiting for the end of the strike in transport, with the still uncertain outcome.

The Fnaut users’ federation wants full reimbursement

The Ile-de-France executive is supported in its approach by the National Federation of Transport User Associations (Fnaut) of Ile-de-France. “While subscribers to the annual Navigo have been debited for the month of January, it is necessary that SNCF and RATP, in conjunction with IDF Mobilités, very quickly announce the compensation for users for the month of December. We request that it concerns all subscribers, without distinction, and relates to the entire December subscription. The reimbursement conditions should be as simple as possible. A supplement will then be added to take into account the situation in January “requires ‘association of users.

On the side of the RATP and the SNCF, officially, the departments are waiting for the end of the social movement to specify the methods of reimbursing users. But the bill already promises to be salty for the two transport companies, the reimbursement of the Navigo card can reach up to 200 million euros, according to The Parisian. This expense will be added to the shortfall due to the 35 successive days of strike (this Wednesday) which will inevitably weigh on their accounts. For SNCF alone, the shortfall was estimated at 600 million euros, last Monday, on the 33rd day of strike.

“There will be a reimbursement plan”, but it “will take into account the terms of the service provided,” said Catherine Guillouard, CEO of RATP, in December 2019. The head of SNCF Transilien, Alain Krakovitch, had for his part mentioned compensation for users of lines “on which the minimum service respected”, according to The echoes.

The standoff between the region and the two public carriers has only just begun …

–