If the Region is looking to the future, let us turn instead to the past to understand the annoyance of the regional councilor. In 2010, the Region headed by Daniel Percheron announced the creation of the Grand Lille express network (today called the Hauts-de-France express network), aiming to quickly link Lille to the mining area by 2035. In 2015, Xavier Bertrand resumes the project and a public debate is organized from April to July. But the project is struggling to get started. Five years later, it seems to be at the point when the Ministry of Transport promises financial support to several French territories to encourage them to set up a “metropolitan express service” (SEM). The RER project is finally getting a new boost.
A SEM, quésaco? Concretely, it plans to increase the frequency of existing TERs on the Lille “star railway”. By 2040, there would for example be 14 TER connecting Lille to Valencienne during rush hour, against eight today; and 16 TER between Lille and Hazebrouck against 8 today. The goal? “Open up territories, all territories, increase the mobility of inhabitants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions”, supported the rapporteur of the project.
“See you in 40 years”
But here we are, we are still a long way from the RER network promised by the Region. What the elected officials voted for during the meeting of November 18 simply opens the way for the financing of the first phase of feasibility studies for the deployment of the SEM. Franck Dhersin has admitted it himself: “numerous and heavy studies will be necessary” for the full implementation of this 5 billion euros project. The first will make it possible to analyze the environmental and urban issues, to monitor the capacity of train movements, but also the capacity of quayside in stations. Co-financed by the Region, the State and the European Metropolis of Lille (MEL), they will complement those already carried out for the Hauts-de-France express network project and should be completed in 2023, for a total budget of 2 million. euros.
If the project is finally on track, it is still very far from reaching its destination. The final route is also not quite finalized. The first phases of studies will make it possible, among other things, to “analyze the variants” of the Hauts-de-France express network. These alternative lines are the result of the 2015 public debate, and pave the way, for example, for the creation of new stations, such as the one called: “Lesquin Airport”. “Short meeting in 40 years”, summed up, bitterly, Marine Tondelier.
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