The Occitanie region has announced the suspension of works and studies for the reopening of the line between Limoux and Quillan, in Aude. The vice-president of the region explains this decision by the suspension by the State of mobility grants. The mayor of Quillan denounces the cost of the necessary work estimated at more than 60 million euros.
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Grasses will continue to grow for a few more years on the Limoux – Quillan railway line, but the region is clear, it is not the terminus.
Last week, the Occitanie region announced the suspension of work and studies for the reopening of this line. Since 2018, trains leave or stop in Limoux. Buses then serve Alet-les-Bains, Esperaza, Couiza Quillan.
“It is not an abandonment, it is indeed a suspension with regard to the budgetary situation. We are counting and we are acting so that this budgetary situation can evolve and of course, the commitments made will be kept as soon as we have the means to be able to hold them”, explains Jean-Luc Gibelin, vice-president of the Occitanie region in charge of transport.
To read: “You tell me 2030? Well, it’s not going to be easy”, in the Haute Vallée de l’Aude, no new train lines before 2030
The reopening of the Limoux – Quillan line will still have to wait. Due to lack of funds allocated by the State, the Occitanie region is postponing its project. “They tell us that because of the budget, they don’t have state funds. So is there a real will or not? I’m not sure,” notes Carole. Could this discourage residents? For Sonia, “no, there are still buses, but yes, it’s a shame”.
For the mayor of Quillan, this suspension is a prelude to inevitable abandonment. He campaigns for the establishment of a greenway on the route and denounces the overpriced railway illusion maintained by the region. “The principle is that the agreement between the Communist Party, the Socialist Party and the Greens do not want to undo it. But the big problem we have is that we, the Upper Aude Valley, have We need something. We need to boost our tourism. underlines Pierre Castel, Les Républicains mayor of Quillan.
I think it is only, and mainly, a political will
Jonas Roux-Briffaud, delegate of the AF3V associationFrance 3
But not all cycling supporters are hostile to cycling. Some want to see its return despite public finances at half mast. “We can create highways, then we can put public money into reopening infrastructures, to also, sometimes, force a passage, despite the opinion of the population. I think that it is only, and mainly, a political will”, explains Jonas Roux-Briffaud, delegate of the AF3V association.
The reopening of the Limoux – Quillan line had already been postponed from 2025 to 2030. In the meantime, users who board in Carcassonne will still have to stop in Limoux and take the bus to go to the Haute Vallée.
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