Rail supporters are returning to strike with the creation of the Sud Aveyron Express collective which asks the SNCF to make Sud-Aveyron a test territory for experimenting with the “Draisy solution”.
After the backlash linked to the “suspension” of the Séverac-Rodez line, rail supporters are returning to strike with the creation of the Sud Aveyron Express collective chaired by the mayor of Comprègnac and railway worker, Olivier Julien.
Its objective: to breathe new life into local rail and “improve rail service in our region”validates the president. How ? By applying for the experiment currently being carried out by the SNCF: the Draisy program.
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Draisy is a railcar – comprising a single vehicle which has a driving cabin and a passenger cabin – 100% electric, intended for small railway lines, that is to say lines with little traffic. By this we mean lines counting “less than 1,500 travelers per day, which represents a third of the French national network”we can read via the SNCF website.
The “fine service lines of the territory”, commonly called “small lines”, represent a third of the French rail network. The operation of these approximately 9,000 km of poorly electrified tracks is a major challenge for rural areas.
A “light rail solution specifically designed to meet the mobility needs of rural areas” which perfectly corresponds to the expectations of the inhabitants of the territory, welcomes the very young collective. Combining energy efficiency and adaptability, this light vehicle could revolutionize the way these lines are operated, by meeting user expectations while respecting economic and environmental constraints.”
14 meters long, the length of a bus, with a reduced weight of 20 tonnes, compared to 47 for current solutions, Draisy has around a hundred kilometers of autonomy, can reach a maximum speed of 100 km /h and can accommodate up to 80 passengers including 30 seated people.
-“The interior space of Draisy will play the card of modularitydevelops the SNCF. Bicycles and micro-freight will find their place there, while the number and type of seats (seats or benches, facing each other or facing the bay windows) will evolve according to the needs of the line served. A large level area will facilitate access for people with reduced mobility, as well as strollers.”
Another advantage: the price. Draisy's objective is to offer a vehicle whose operating cost is 60% lower than that of a TER. An ambition which found a certain echo among users, among the founding members of the collective, who now intend to seriously apply for the Draisy program to make South Aveyron a “test territory”.
“Together, we wish to bring a constructive and innovative vision to guarantee the future of this essential infrastructure. The collective is committed to dialogue with the SNCF, local and regional authorities, as well as the State, in order to make this project a reality” , agrees Olivier Julien.
Draisy benefits from state funding as part of France 2030. Rolling stock testing will begin in early 2027 on the Sarralbe – Kalhausen line, in Grand Est. The marketing of the Draisy solution on the national market is planned from 2028.
Until then“the collective requests that trains make stops at Peyre, classified among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France” and at Aguessac, in order to better serve the area and promote access to services for residents and visitors”slips the collective. The Séverac – Millau – Tournemire line is much more than a simple railway line. It represents a vital link for residents, an opportunity for tourism and a sustainable solution to climate challenges. With the potential arrival of the Draisy, we have the opportunity to become a model for the revitalization of rural rail lines.”
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