In Millau as in Aveyron, the liO coach network is driving the counters crazy

On the 18 regular lines of the Aveyron network, attendance in 2023 increased by 110% compared to 2021. A.D.

Impressive increase in the number of coaches on the liO network, Rodez-Millau rail line project, Millau-Paris night train… Vice-president for mobility and transport infrastructure in the Occitanie region, Jean-Luc Gibelin returns to the subjects mobilities of the moment. 

In September 2018, the Occitanie region merged the departmental transport networks (TER and coaches) into a large common network: the Occitanie intermodal lines, abbreviated to &nbsp ;liO. 

Six years later and thanks to a regional pricing policy "voluntarist" , train attendance but especially coach attendance has jumped "out of the norm", valid Jean-Luc Gibelin , vice-president for mobility and transport infrastructure in the Occitanie region. 

The figures confirm it. On the 18 regular lines of the Aveyron network, attendance in 2023 increased by 46% compared to 2022 and by 110% compared to 2021, confirms the Region. "By launching our Green Deal for Occitanie, we have made the use and development of public transport a concrete mode of action and resolute in the ecological and energy transition", adds the vice-president.  

To put a little green in the blue sky of Occitanie, the Region has decided to implement three strong themes to give users back the opportunity want to prefer, if not the train, public transport. "We wanted to improve and increase the offer – already high with regard to coaches but still perfect for rail – while offering attractive pricing… the answer to which is one& ;nbsp;completely extraordinary increase in attendance."

"It's not com' "

For 2 euros – 1.5 euros for those who buy a 10-trip card – Millavois or Saint-Affricains have probably gotten into the habit of taking the bus to get there the shores of Montpellier. 95,422 travelers made this choice in 2023 compared to 50,202 in 2021. That is an increase of 91%…

Same between Millau and Saint-Affrique (103,291 passengers in 2023) or between Millau and Rodez (118,222). The prize goes to bus 203 between Rodez and Montauban with 175,763 users throughout the year: up 205% compared to 2021. In total, on the 18 regular lines of the Aveyron network, attendance in 2023 (707,226 passengers) increased by 46% compared to 2022 and 110% compared to 2021.

Enough to leave a few passengers at the platform during the days  – "rather rare" – high attendance and to bring back the smile of the vice-president who is aiming in the Region for 100,000 daily passengers. An achievable goal which has only occurred 14 times in 2023. 

"It's not com' we have proven that it is possible but this requires us to move forward by further strengthening the railway infrastructure, by strengthening the rolling stock, by transforming diesel buses into hydrogen buses… The The outcome is certainly favorable but we must do everything to make it last. The work is not yet fully completed. We are not going to rest, quite the contrary, aims at Jean-Luc Gibelin who is pushing the envelope further by seriously considering the renovation of the Rodez-Séverac railway line put on hold in 2017 due to lack of users. 

"2028 or 2030"

"As President Carole Delga is committed to, we want to allow the return of the railway in certain territories". For him "a major issue", given the worrying state of the infrastructure on certain sections of the network railway where LiO trains run.

The Rodez-Sévérac line like those of Montréjeau-Luchon; Limoux-Quillan; Alès-Bessèges, or that between Pont-Saint-Esprit and Nîmes (right bank of the Rhône) is one of these, endowed for the 38 km of service with a forecast envelope of order of 80 million euros. Everything but a straw, recognizes the chosen one.

"We are convinced of the relevance of the approach, still relevant even if it is a long project to implement . We are continuing the study phases, there will undoubtedly be the opportunity during the year to have a steering committee to see where we are", hopes the Lozérien regarding a project which, if it were to (re)see the light of day, would only be operational at the end of the year. horizon "2028 or 2030".  

A Millau-Paris night train ?

In Figeac at the start of the year to defend, with many elected officials and users, the Intercités night train between Paris and Rodez – canceled 62 times between July and December 2023 – the regional elected official reiterated his attachment to this train "obviously very important".

" In addition to our TER services or our TGV services, we need territorial balance trains (TET), day and night. We are also carrying the request for a Paris-Clermont train then a tri-branch Clermont-Aurillac, Clermont-Millau and Clermont-Alès." 

It is therefore up to the State, organizing authority for TETs, "to fully ensure its mission" exhorts the chosen one. "When we look at the night train map of France, we notice a large hole in the middle: the Massif Central."&nbsp ;For him, "absolutely scandalous!"

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