The Ligne Nouvelle Provence Côte d’Azur (LNPCA) continues to make people talk. Friday, December 27 in the evening, the Cannes La Bocca initiative and defense union (SID) met at C'Picaud to take stock of the progress of the project.
If the latter is indeed underway and will not be canceled, the SID wishes, on the other hand, to find alternatives to the expenditure of millions of euros which it considers unnecessary.
“We think it is wise to propose implementing new techniques that could be studied instead of carrying out major work, costing almost 300 million euros, which, to save three minutes, could be avoided,” comments Laid Bouzetit, president of the SID.
“People want to live peacefully”
Because this work is the cause of many future problems for Boccacian residents. In addition to the hundreds of millions of euros spent, the SID denounces “numerous nuisances such as works which would hamper not only traffic but also local residents since some would be carried out at night”. “The project is evolving, we will not be able to stop it. But what we want is to amend it as much as possible for the well-being and development of La Bocca, and the comfort of its inhabitants. People want live peacefully,” insists Laid Bouzetit.
To overcome these possible problems, the SID highlights the technology of the European rail traffic management system (ERTMS, or, in French, “European Rail Traffic Management System”).
Slow down the trains
“ERTMS is a system which measures the distance between trains, specifies JPL (1), railway referent of the SID. Thus, rather than spending a lot of money, we could afford to slow down the trains and manage their spacing. What we recommend is that SNCF returns to the concept of H-00. That is to say that the train is on time, not early or late.
“ERTMS also makes it possible to have extremely precise location and a spacing of less than 500 meters, confirms Orion Azziz, engineer. This allows a great deal of flexibility and makes it possible to avoid the construction of multiple tracks and thus reduce investments.”
The SID hopes to be heard. “Our wish is that there be the least impact on residents,” he concludes.
1. The name was changed at the request of the commenter.
A major project
This large-scale project aims to increase rail supply, streamline traffic and improve travel in the region, by reconfiguring the existing network and creating new facilities.
The first phase, from 2025 to 2029, should improve service to Nice Côte d'Azur airport and the second, from 2029 to 2032, aims in particular to create a new TER station at Cannes La Bocca on the site of the current Cannes Marchandises station, between Sicasil and La Roubine. Estimated cost: 3.8 billion euros.
