TER in Loire-Atlantique: when travelers have their say, they have lots of positive proposals to improve the service. On a daily basis, they use the TER lines or the Aléop buses which crisscross the territory to get to work. They have children who go to school and use public transport.
Thursday, November 9, the Pays de la Loire Region invited users to the lines committee. The evening covered the railway lines from Nantes to Châteaubriant, Clisson, Savenay, Ancenis and Sainte Pazanne. It was also a question of the network’s regular interurban road services. Aléop in Loire-Atlantique.
Around Julien Bainvel, regional advisor, the managers of SNCF Voyageurs, Réseau et Gares et Connections, coach operators subcontractors of Aléop and elected officials. Users, alone or united in associations, were well present. Philippe Morel, mayor of Le Cellier hosted the meeting at the municipal hall.
Line committees are real exercises in direct democracy
A majority of users of the Nantes Thouaré-Ancenis line who came as neighbors are demanding accountability. A young woman points out the fact that there is no ticket machine on the platform of Cellier station. Response from Ronan Besseyre, director of SNCF Voyageurs » We are required to have a counter or distributor within five kilometers. There is a distributor in Mauves “
A lack of communication
The floor being given to the public present – users also had the possibility of asking questions online – the lack of communication was singled out. Users forgive a delay and understand the hazards caused by weather conditions and trees felled on the railway line. They can hear everything. Everything except the deafening silence of the SNCF. The grievance comes up on many lips. There was an SMS alert system before which worked well and now nothing. Users want to be considered.
For daily users of the line, there is something exasperating about not being informed or being informed at the last moment.
Ronan Besseyre, director of Lignes SNCF Voyageurs, tries to convince ©Alain Moreau
The place of cycling on trains
The SNCF has not been able to adapt to the comeback of soft mobility. Cycling is no longer the business of a few people looking for a return to nature. Cycling is really on the rise. It is economical, agile, you can park it almost anywhere without risking a fine or having to pay for parking. It has become electrically assisted, thus making life easier for new two-wheel users.
At the same time, we have seen the popularity of cycling increase tenfold. Dedicated routes have emerged, and the departments have supported their development. We no longer talk about the success of the Loire à Vélo which, well beyond the summer months and tourism, sees cyclists traveling to work. But now, the SNCF is one step behind.
Julien Bainvel, regional advisor, leads the debates. Philippe Morel, mayor of Le Cellier who receives ©Alain Moreau.
The railway company did not catch the wave
She does not have or does not want to understand the user who wishes to come to the station on two wheels, put him on the train, meet him in town to carry out the last mile to get to work. And in the evening, do the same thing, in reverse. Bike sheds are only half the solution. The traveler wants to find the railcars of yesteryear where we had a luggage compartment. Today, the tracks allow driving at 160 km/h. We can save travel time between stations and take more time at stops.
Cycling is always a question. Julien Bainvel assures that discussions are going well (sic) on the Nantes-Nort-sur-Erdre-Châteaubriant Line to develop a cycle path on its own site.
On this line, several questions concern the frequency of the Tram-train in the afternoon between Nort-sur-Erdre and Nantes. An additional trip at 8:21 a.m. from Châteaubriant would also be appreciated. On this same line, travelers do not understand the low level of service. On the Tram-train, no power outlet, no tablet to place your computer on, little mobile reception. If we add to this the recurring problem of toilets being closed every other time, we understand better why attendance is not up to what was expected when it was inaugurated in 2014. We were counting on 11,500 travelers/ day. There are five times less. This tram-train was primarily intended to provide a connection to the hypothetical Notre Dame des Landes airport.
Franck Nicolon, regional council, Ecology Together ©Alain Moreau
The Nantes Star
Lots of other subjects, such as the diametrization of paths, are on the table. We could go from Nort-sur-Erdre to Nantes Atlantique, Machecoul or Pornic without changing trains. Will there be a stop at Nantes Atlantique airport? The recruitment and training of personnel, such as the future Nantes star, are under discussion. Clément Beaune is coming to Nantes next week.
One point on which everyone agrees: the line committees are useful and the discussions improve the service.
2023-11-11 19:08:52
#TER #LoireAtlantique #travelers
