The canton of Neuchâtel has budgeted an investment of 20 million francs in 2025 to bail out the transport company transN in poor financial position. A report on the restructuring and recapitalization of the company will be sent to the Grand Council in the summer of 2025.
Questioned about transN during the presentation of the cantonal budget last Wednesday, State Councilor Laurent Favre, in charge of territorial development, declared that “the audit work has progressed well”. The external audit was launched at the end of last year to understand the significant increase in costs and propose measures to optimize, clean up and consolidate the transport company.
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Stronger increases in Neuchâtel
The increase in transN’s financing needs impacts “the cantonal budget but also that of the municipalities”, the canton indicated on Monday. TransN’s expenses have increased by 15 million francs in three years, the State Councilor explained in December in response to questions from deputies.
This situation weakens the conditions for co-financing regional traffic by the Confederation. These increases are substantially higher than those of other transport companies during the same period. Exogenous factors partly explain these additional needs such as inflation, energy costs or the effects of the Covid crisis on the company’s balance sheet.
Collaborations with other companies
The rest comes from endogenous factors. However, the volume of transN services has remained almost stable in recent years. The external audit will have to understand the structural causes of these cost increases and propose remedial measures. Complementary collaborations and synergies will be sought and evaluated with other public transport companies.
The results of this important work will be known in spring 2025. A report on the restructuring and recapitalization of transN will be sent to the Grand Council in summer 2025 for decision. “The restructuring of the company is naturally a condition for its recapitalization,” said the canton.
Lack of staff, scheduling problems, lack of resources: transN has been in turmoil for several weeks. Some drivers and the union have complained about deteriorating working conditions. Race journey times are getting longer, particularly due to increased traffic, and break times are becoming shorter. Some declared Arcinfo no longer have time to go to the toilet.
