Mélina Facchin (correspondent in Strasbourg) 06:10, December 10, 2022

At the end of November, Emmanuel Macron announced his desire to develop regional RERs in addition to the network on the model of Paris and its region.

The city of Strasbourg is the first to embark on the adventure with the inauguration this Sunday of the European Metropolitan Express Network (REME).

On Sunday, Paris will no longer be the only city in France to have an RER.

This December 11, Strasbourg officially inaugurates its "REME" for European Metropolitan Express Network.

This corresponds to Emmanuel Macron's desire to develop these train networks at the regional level.

The launch of this Strasbourg RER will make it possible, by August, to run 1,000 additional trains each week.

That's a 43% increase in traffic. 

The European Metropolitan Express Network in service from December 11:


✅reinforcement of rail services


✅deployment of express coach offers


✅facilitated intermodality with public transport & bicycle @PiaImbs@JeanROTTNER@SNCF@regiongrandestpic.twitter.com/ANAsSlspwk

— Strasbourg.eu (@strasbourg) December 9, 2022

The "REME" was not created from scratch.

In reality, it will essentially use the lines that already exist.

On the other hand, the number of trains will have to increase significantly.

“On December 11, there are 800 additional trains per week”, explains Jean Rottner, president of the Grand Est region.

“On January 2, about sixty trains will be added to it and on August 21, another 200 additional trains,” he continues.

In addition, there will also be an increased supply of buses and coaches around the 95 stations connected to this new network.

"We can make metropolitan express networks anywhere on our territory"

In Strasbourg, the frequency of trains will also be increased with passages approximately every half hour.

And the hours will be extended.

The trains will run from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and weekends.

This project "opens the way", considers the Minister of Transport Clément Beaune.

"It was also the meaning of the message from the President of the Republic a few days ago: it's not just Paris," he insists.

And to continue, "we will see the exact number, but when we talk about ten projects, already studied, already worked for some of them, we know that we can make metropolitan express networks everywhere on our territory", adds the minister, specifying that "the State will respond present" and will define the timetables, the routes, the various projects and their financing "from the first months of 2023".