Six minutes to get to Tours from Fondettes. This will be possible by train by the end of 2025. Closed more than thirty years ago, the Fondettes-Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire station will resume service after significant developments (1). Two car parks, to the north and south of the station, will be created, as well as a secure bicycle parking space connected to the cycle network.
A project which caught the eye of the new Minister for Transport, traveling this Thursday in Touraine. When he arrived at the ministry, François Durovray declared that he preferred the bus to the train for everyday travel, because “less expensive”. At Fondettes, he reviews his copy.
A public consultation
Here, the project to create a railway stop, initiated by elected officials from the Centre-Val de Loire Region and the Tours Metropolis, has the merit of being “very simple”, recognized François Durovray. “This will make people’s lives easier and save time for families. » Today, motorists take between fifteen to forty minutes to make the Fondettes-Tours journey.
Fondettes-Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire station is located on the TER Le Mans-Tours-Vendôme-Châteaudun lines. It will connect Fondettes to the city center of Tours in six minutes.
© Photo NR, Pascaline Mesnage
“Until now, we have dealt with connections between large cities and within the very heart of cities. But we also have to think about the people who live on the outskirts,” insisted the minister.
Users who can already give their opinion on this railway stop project: a public consultation is organized until December 8, 2024. The future of the old passenger building, which belongs to the City of Fondettes, will be discussed on this occasion.
Twelve trains per day
Once the developments have been completed, twelve trains will stop every day at Fondettes station. A first stone for the Metropolitan Regional Express Service, certified by State services last June. “We are considering creating other railway stops in the department”, said Emmanuel Denis, mayor of Tours and vice-president, delegate for transport and soft mobility at the Metropolis of Tours. As in La Ville-aux-Dames, “to relieve car traffic”. Another rail stop project is being studied around the Verdun crossroads, south of Tours, with the possibility of reaching the city center using the tramway.
“What do you need from me? » asked François Durovray. “We are going to need additional trains and train new agents”detailed Philippe Fournié, deputy vice-president for mobility, transport and intermodality at the Region. New train sets financed by the Region (50%) and by the metropolis of Tours (50%) have just been ordered, “for an amount of 160 million euros”.
The scope of the metropolitan regional express service.
© Photo NR, Pascaline Mesnage
“Here, in Touraine, there is potential”
The State can help local elected officials with technical means. On the financial side, the State has committed 800 million euros for the creation of the Metropolitan Regional Express Service, “but we know that it won’t be enough”conceded the minister. All projects will not be accepted. “Here, in Touraine, there is potential”estimated François Durovray.
In Indre-et-Loire, the Touraine metropolitan regional express service should benefit many users. But will not solve all the difficulties of traveling in rural areas. Yesterday, the member of the 5e constituency of Indre-et-Loire, Sabine Thillaye, shared her regrets with the Minister for Transport: “When you look at the map, the northwest of the department is a desert. »
(1) Funding: 33% State, 33% Centre-Val de Loire Region, 33% Tours Métropole Val de Loire.
The delegate minister also stopped off in Chinon to discuss the new public transport system of the community of communes.
© Photo NR, Oriane Cuenoud
A visit to Chinon to talk about on-demand transport
While passing through Touraine, the Minister Delegate for Transport, François Durovray, stopped by Chinon to discover the new public transport system launched last September at the level of the Chinon Vienne et Loire Community of Communes.
As the minister was able to see, on-demand transport is starting to find its audience. Around fifty reservations are made every day. François Durovray also took the opportunity to suggest some suggestions for improvement, such as reducing the annual subscription cost.
“Here, without the economic dynamic in the territory, it would undoubtedly have been complicated, beyond State aid (€800,000 within the framework of the Green Fund), to create this service”recognized the minister. For community initiatives to multiply, he expressed his ” wish “ what “in the parliamentary debates which will be held in the coming weeks, we should give an additional boost to these communities which will get involved. » Without guarantee of success, lack of majority in the National Assembly.
