The railway subject often has the gift of irritating the elect. Even making them crazy when SNCF decides to delete a row. Those of the Côte-d’Or recently took up the pen to tell Jean Pierre Farandou the managing director of the operator, all the evil they think of the suspension of the TGV Mulhouse-Lille line, which has been closed since 2020 due to equipment problems.
“The disappearance of this dash between Switzerland and Belgium would be harmful for many inhabitants and companies that have established themselves in our agglomerations thanks to the ease of access and service”, deplore the elected officials. Passing through Dijon and Montbard, the line served the Marne-la-Vallée hub and the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle hub at the rate of two trains a day.
Consequence of the crisis
Problem: with the crisis and its consequences – the drop in air traffic, the development of teleworking – the connection has seen a decrease in attendance, -40% in 2021. This is a deficit of 1 to 2 million euros, according to the user association data. What to push the SNCF, bound by the Railway agreement 2018 , to consider its definitive termination, according to them. Much to the chagrin, of course, of the local elected officials on the front line including François Rebsamen, president (PS) of the Dijon agglomeration. A few weeks after the opening of the International City of Gastronomy, this decision would be, according to him, pure and simple provocation.
With the other elected officials he intends to meet the president of the SNCF and, to finish convincing him, knock on Matignon’s door. “The suspension of the line is no longer justified! “, The chosen one insists, hoping more than ever to be heard in Paris.
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