This is important news that Philippe Fournié, Vice President of the Center-Val de Loire Region, is expected to announce this Saturday 8 October, at 9 am, during the annual meeting of the Codérail (Committee for the Defense and Development of Railways in the Montluçon Region and the Val de Cher). SNCF Réseau is expected to start a regeneration project of the SNCF Bourges-Montluçon line in the last quarter of 2023.
The works should take place until September 2024. They concern the change of sleepers and ballast. “The line will be closed from January to September 2024 for the Bourges to Saint-Amand route,” says Phillippe Fournié. “The construction site will take place in 2023 and 2024”, specifies SNCF Réseau, who will later confirm the amount of the loan.
“The first circulation of a hybrid train is scheduled for the end of 2023”
The Codérail should be satisfied, “if the job is done, Yvon Morineau, a member of the association, delays. The survival of our Bourges-Montluçon line is at stake, we absolutely need punctual trains that arrive at Montluçon at 9 am ”. For Codérail there is an urgent need to do the work, because, due to the poor condition of the line, “the speed is limited to 40 km / h over seven kilometers, between Vallon-en-Sully and Montluçon”, deplores Yvon Morineau .
The other big news of the line will be the modernization of the Régiolis trains, acquired by the State in 2019. The trains will be hybridized, that is, equipped with an electric battery. This will allow them to run on electricity or diesel. “The first run of a hybrid train is scheduled for the last week of 2023 (i.e. the week before the line closes for work, ed) »Announces Philippe Fournié. Codérail is satisfied but remains vigilant. “They will bring us some beautiful trains, but the track needs to be repaired. “
According to Philippe Fournié, the SNCF Bourges-Montluçon line should benefit from a new phase of work worth 30 million euros in 2024. But the financing is not guaranteed. In addition, another major project is expected within eight years: “We will have to change the signage in 2030, at a cost of 40 million euros”, warns the vice president of the regional council. Again, funding is still not secured.
Montluçon-Vierzon: five trains a day
The Bourges-Montluçon – single track line is very active, with the exception of Bourges and Saint-Florent-sur-Cher. First, it provides three daily direct passenger connections in the direction of Montluçon-Bourges and another three in the direction of Bourges-Montluçon; there are also three Vierzon-Montluçon and five Montluçon-Vierzon connections. Thus, it allows eight freight train movements per week. Finally, the line is used by the Inveho company, of Orval, which builds wagons.
Benoit Morin
