Is there a problem with the frequency of transport in Marseille?

Masked people wait for the bus in Marseille -

• In Marseille, the incidence rate of Covid-19 is the highest in France.

• Despite the prefect's requests in this regard, the RTM is unable to increase rates during peak hours, due to a lack of sufficient drivers.

• The metropolis, for its part, claims a drop in the use of public transport in Marseille.

One Saturday morning in September in the metro the tone rose between several users in Marseille.

An old lady is offended to see a man sit next to her, while a label on the file states that this place must be left empty in order to respect social distancing.

The man replied that, anyway, given the world in the subway train, sitting here or standing further does not make a big difference in terms of health.

A third passenger adds that these measures were valid during confinement, and that it is now impossible in the Marseille metro to apply the rule of social distancing recommended by the authorities.

When the prefect gets involved

This anecdote, told by a

reader

who experienced the scene, reflects the unease that has reigned among some RTM users in Marseille since the start of the school year.

While the coronavirus epidemic is particularly virulent in France's second largest city, some subways and buses are regularly crowded.

The situation worries up to the highest summit of the State, since even the prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône was moved during a press conference on the health measures implemented to fight against the Covid-19 in Marseille.

"I ask for the reinforcement of the timing of buses, trams and subways", solemnly claimed Christophe Mirmand last Monday.

Problems at rush hour

Shortly after, the metropolis responded to this reply in a surprising press release.

On the one hand, she claimed to have asked the RTM "to strengthen the service offer at rush hour", by increasing the number of metro trains and trams to reduce waiting time and by mobilizing a few buses from Reserve.

On the other hand, it implied the fact that this reinforcement was useful “if attendance requires it”, whereas “overall attendance is currently 25% lower than that usually observed during the start of the school year”.

"In terms of social distancing in transport, I find the overall situation satisfactory," says Pierre Durand, deputy general manager of my RTM.

And to specify immediately, "if we do not talk about periods of hyperpointe".

"We have very contrasting situations and problems on certain lines, in particular the bus lines which come from working-class districts with a public of school children", he admits.

“Overall, the buses are 50 or 60% full;

but there are lines where, in peak periods, the buses accommodate between 70 to 80 people, where, before the Covid, a full bus accommodated 95 passengers.

"

"Nothing is insoluble"

So why not step up the pace on these lines when the need arises, that is to say at peak times, to better protect the health of users?

"RTM is a company like any other," retorts Pierre Durand.

I have to adapt my organization to my resources.

Today, with the Covid, I face an absenteeism rate of 15%, where it usually tops out at less than 7%.

I am understaffed.

We recruited 200 fixed-term contracts during the summer period to replace these sick leaves in particular and I keep a maximum of them.

But we do the maximum, the fact is that we do not have enough human resources.

"

"The problem is not new, but we cannot be satisfied with a situation where we would say: 'too bad, people are piling up, we do what we can", retorts Audrey Gatian, new assistant to the Mayor of Marseille in charge of mobility.

I hear there is a personnel problem.

But nothing is insoluble.

Drivers are recruited, they are formed.

The other cities are managing to recruit, I don't see why Marseille couldn't do it.

"

And to launch: "We will begin a dialogue with the metropolis in the coming days to challenge them on this emergency and to speed things up.

The situation cannot last, even more during this health crisis ”.

Contacted, the metropolis did not wish to follow up on our requests and refers to its press release sent last week.

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• Bus

• Tram

• Subway

• Marseilles

• epidemic

• Coronavirus

• Public transport