freight privatization worries unions

The railway union organizations will mobilize this Thursday, November 21 to denounce the privatization of freight but not only. In fact, many services are moving to the private sector, such as track maintenance.

The opening of freight competition in 2006 had already caused union organizations to jump. But this time, it is the transfer to the private sector of rail freight which scandalizes them. A day of strike is scheduled for Thursday, November 21 throughout the national territory. For the moment we do not yet know the impact on rail traffic that this strike will have.

“We denounce the privatization of freight, but not only that, because the move to the private sector concerns all services. The SNCF has been calling on the private sector for a long time for its work, such as on the track,” explains Delphine Huens, CGT union representative from Chalindrey.

Privatization also concerns passenger transport. “Around fifteen lines in Grand Est will come under the control of the private sector,” indicates Stéphane Busolini, CGT railway representative at regional level and also a member of Ceser Grand Est (Economic, Social and Environmental Council).

The Contrex-Nancy line privatized

One of them is known to us since it is line 14 between Culmont-Chalindrey and Nancy via Merrey. A line stopped in December 2026 by the SNCF. Since then, the Regional Council has launched a call for tenders to operate this line again, “even though it was he who had it closed in 2016”, assures Stéphane Busolini.

What required 65 million euros in 2016 to bring it up to standard, it will cost nearly 200 million euros now. “It was a consortium, Nova 14, which won the market. It is made up of Transdev and NGE. The line will be completely removed from the SNCF heritage with a 22-year concession. And if the line is in deficit, the Region will put its hand in its pocket. But this line will not open in its entirety. It will provide passenger transport between Contrex and Nancy. If a traveler wants to go to Culmont, he will first have to go to Nancy and then take a connection to Culmont. It’s as if Culmont was not part of the Grand Est,” notes Stéphane Busolini. This line is due to open on December 12, 2027 at the annual change of service.

Freight moratorium

Au 1^is January, it will therefore be an end to Fret SNCF which transported half of the goods circulating on rails. “It’s the destruction of everything we know,” says Delphine Huens. SNCF will not be able to respond to Freight tenders for a period of 10 years, unless one of these subsidiaries is involved…

Trade union organizations have called for a moratorium on the transfer of freight to the private sector. They note that since 2006, rail freight has gone by road “with an increase of 50,000 trucks per year”, assures Stéphane Busolini. Denouncing at the same time a contradiction between the desire to reduce the carbon footprint and the increase in trucks.

“November 21 is a double trigger. We have issued an ultimatum and we have already planned a movement for December 11 with a renewable strike,” announces Delphine Huens.

Ph. L.