November 13, 2024 at 9:41 p.m. by Nicolas Terrien
Despite protests from the Centre-Val-de-Loire Regional Council, the SNCF will carry out its work during the day on the Boisseaux – Les Aubrais section of the Paris-Austerlitz – Orléans line in 2025. A decision which will have consequences on the circulation of trains. trains between Loire stations and the capital.
It is recorded by SNCF Réseau: the renovation work on the famous “sick line” with the replacement of 70 kilometers of tracks between Boisseaux and Les Aubrais will extend from April 2025 to February 2026. A project unanimously described as necessary, and which is part of the overall regeneration project of the POLT line (Paris – Orléans – Limoges – Toulouse). “We’re not going to repeat the match, but we’re angry!” ruminates Philippe Fournié. With the regional executive, the elected representative in charge of transport had defended the principle of night work, so as not to impact passenger traffic during the day : “It was refused to us, other choices were made.” The reason? “SNCF Réseau made this choice to ensure the continuity of freight traffic” explains the regional director of SNCF Voyageurs, Hélène Marquet. “This Atlantic corridor is used over a long period of time by trains which require precise timetables”. It will therefore be up to travelers to adapt.
An average of two trains out of three during the week
While waiting to know precisely the traffic plans and timetables by the end of January 2025, the Regional Council and SNCF Voyageurs unveil the measures taken to limit the impact of the daytime closure of the line, in this case “five hours a day during the preparatory phase of the work and eight hours in the operational phase” explains Hélène Marquet, i.e. from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., therefore during off-peak hours. But what consequences for the line’s 125,000 weekly passengers? Already, trains are maintained during peak hours, i.e. two hours before and two hours after the tracks close. “We are also going to put more wagons, going from two to three trains at these times, which will make it possible to offer up to 1,332 seats.” And at times of traffic interruption, coaches will rotate between Orléans and Paris-Austerlitzwith a round trip every hour. A 2h15 trip costs 12 euros.
Guarantee continuity of service as best as possible
Furthermore, let us point out that trains will run normally on weekends, although at slightly reduced speed, “which could extend journeys by 10 to 15 minutes” concedes the regional management of SNCF Voyageurs, so that 70% of convoys will run normally during the construction period, according to forecasts. “All this will impact 25% of travelers” we are told, and questions also arise in terms of connections for travelers coming from Blois or Bourges. “Here, trains will run normally south of Orléans.” It is only once you arrive in the regional capital that you will have to adapt. Just like the region, which does not hide its annoyance. “Between the implementation of alternative means and the drop in ticket sales revenue, this will cost us at least three million euros” believes Philippe Fournié: “We have no other choice than to guarantee the continuity of the service, but we will ask for compensation.”
