The historic RATP monopoly in Île-de-France is beginning to erode. From the summer of 2024, 42 bus lines in the Marne and Brie region will come under the operation of Keolis, a subsidiary of SNCF, as part of the opening of public transport to competition. This 900 million euro contract, signed for eight years, heralds a new era for the Ile-de-France bus network.
A major market for Keolis
The Marne and Brie region, covering 33 municipalities in Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne and Seine-et-Marne, will see the management of its bus lines entrusted to Keolis from August 2024. These 42 bus lines, connecting municipalities such as Chelles, Pontault-Combault, and Emerainville to destinations such as Le Raincy, Noisy-le-Grand or Ozoir-la-Ferrière, serve around 600,000 inhabitants through 1,215 stops.
Île-de-France Mobilités, which supervises transport in the Paris region, underlines the importance of these lines, in particular for busy routes. With a fleet of 350 vehicles, Keolis promises to strengthen the quality of service by focusing on better punctuality and more effective passenger information. This contract, worth 900 million euros over eight years, also includes a transition to cleaner energies with the introduction of electric buses running on natural gas.
A transfer of personnel under pressure
To ensure continuity of service, Keolis will welcome 1,100 employees, including 900 drivers, mainly from the RATP, on a voluntary basis. However, this reorganization raises concerns among RATP employees. Despite the promise to maintain their social benefits, this change sparked strike action, especially as the sector faces a shortage of drivers. A new dedicated structure will be set up by Keolis to manage these lines, in an effort to integrate and perpetuate skills.
RATP nevertheless retains the operation of several lines in the Boucles Nord de Seine and Bords de Marne territories. However, the main issue remains the allocation of Parisian intramural bus lines, planned for the summer of 2024. This strategic market will see several operators compete, including Keolis, Transdev, and even international competitors such as the Italian ATM. The possible loss of the Parisian lines would mark a symbolic turning point for the RATP, thus concluding decades of monopoly on public transport in the capital.
The opening to competition of Île-de-France bus lines is intensifying and reshaping the landscape of public transport in the Paris region. While this transition promises service improvements, it also represents a significant social challenge for RATP and its employees, while new players seek to establish themselves in the Ile-de-France transport market.
