Illustration train in station -

PATRICK GELY / SIPA

  • This cooperative is entering the rail market thanks to the opening up to competition.

  • One of its first projects is to relaunch the Bordeaux-Lyon train line, abandoned by SNCF in 2014.

  • Railcoop plans to offer a price of between 37 and 40 euros for the entire journey.

The objective is to revive the Bordeaux-Lyon train line abandoned in 2014 by the SNCF.

And for this, the Railcoop cooperative, which is entering the rail market thanks to the opening up to competition, has just taken an important step.

It has in fact raised the share capital of 1.5 million euros, necessary to obtain the rail license, which must be issued by ART, the transport regulatory authority.

"We also obtained insurance covering passenger risks, which was not an easy task" slips the president of Railcoop, Dominique Guerrée, contacted by

20Minutes

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Bordeaux-Lyon railway line project - 20Minutes

The next step for this cooperative created in 2019, which now brings together 6,600 members, is obtaining the safety certificate from the EPSF, the public railway safety establishment.

"A file also very complex" warns Dominique Guerrée.

"Quality" on-board catering

But Railcoop is confident, and thinks it will be able to ensure its first trip from June 2022. Nine stops would be scheduled between Bordeaux and Lyon, including Libourne, Périgueux and Limoges.

The initial objective of keeping a journey time below the 7 hour mark will not be possible.

"SNCF Réseau will not be able to offer us the service we were hoping for, so that we will no longer have a journey time of around 7:30 am" regrets Dominique Guerrée.

“But it will be improved and we will try to work these hours.

"In addition," we will not be able to run a train at night either, not initially in any case.

»To start, there is a departure in the morning in each direction and a departure in the afternoon in each direction.

The commercial offer is in preparation, “but we will be between 37 and 40 euros for the entire journey.

"It is an" evolving "price according to the additional services," in particular the meals on board (meal trays, services instead ...) that we will work with local restaurateurs to have a certain quality of products.

"There will also be" an on-board bicycle service, and we are working on on-board connectivity, and entertainment for families and children during holiday periods.

"

Used Equipment

The second-hand equipment will be purchased directly from SNCF and the regions, in particular Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, which will participate financially in the project, without however entering into the capital of the cooperative.

Very interested in this non-profit project, around ten communities have chosen to acquire a stake in Railcoop.

"The goal is not to make a profit, but to provide service, and to reinvest the profits in the company" assures Dominique Guerrée.

Railcoop has already expressed its ambition to operate two other passenger rail lines for 2023: Toulouse-Rennes and Lyon Part Dieu-Thionville.

Economy

Bordeaux-Lyon train: The daring bet of Railcoop, which wants to relaunch interregional rail lines

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  • Aquitaine

  • Lyon

  • Bordeaux

  • SNCF

  • Train

  • Society

  • Public transport