“Incivility is exploding, we can't afford free education”: the alarming back-to-school letter from the Tam union in Montpellier

“On n’a pas les moyens de la gratuité”, selon le syndicat. La Métropole rappelle que 77 rames de tramway sont en commande. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Dans un courrier interne, le syndicat FO du transporteur de la métropole de Montpellier se montre virulent. La collectivité rappelle un montant d’investissements à 1 milliard d’euros.

“The passenger load is exploding: around 450,000 passengers per day. The Tam has a commercial public service offer in decline, despite the fact that transport is free. Transporting more with fewer resources than in 2019 is not possible! Working conditions are appalling, incivility is exploding, complaints are piling up."

"People are being left behind"

In its internal back-to-school letter, the first since the introduction of free transport last December, the FO union in Tam is virulent. For Laurent Murcia, the manager, it's simple:  "We can't afford free services." He denounces a public service that does not live up to users' expectations and degraded working conditions.“We are asking for the lines to be reinforced. On the tramway, on weekends, on Lattes and Pérols, we have an hour's wait between two trains; all week long, on bus lines 15 and 19 too, there is too much of a gap between the trains, it's not possible! We have breaks in service, we leave people on the platform. Users get upset and this creates tensions."

"It has a cost"

The union is asking for more rotations. But "that means more drivers, more electricity… It has a cost. On the contrary, we are making savings. At Toussaint for example, we will switch to holiday hours but the students will still be there. They take the tram, especially with free travel. Free travel is great. But we are victims of it."

A billion euros invested!

Do Tam and the Metropolis have the means to provide free education?? For the community, there is no doubt. Answer in figures.

“We recall that, during the mandate, an investment of more than one billion euros was undertaken in the mobility of tomorrow, including:
– the commissioning of Tramway Line 5 (80,000 passengers expected per day): 440 million euros.
– the extension of Tramway Line 1.
– the commissioning of a bustram offer with the acquisition of 70 buses electric.

In addition, it is important to recall the contract concluded with CAF Urbos for 224 M€ concerning the 77 new tram trains:
– 30 trains dedicated to the renewal of the rolling stock of line 1.
– 22 trains assigned to the operation of the future tram line 5.
– 17 trains to cover the increase in ridership associated with free transport
– 8 trains to increase reserves and make the network more reliable.

Finally, it should be noted that the number of Tam employees has increased by 26.3%:
– In December 2019: 1,129 employees
– To date: 1,426 employees.”

Next spring, however, things are set to improve. The Metropolis has ordered 77 new trains for Tam for €275 million. The first deliveries are scheduled for the spring. Enough to reassure Laurent Murcia? Not quite according to him. “In 2025, things will get even more complicated: there is the ZFE coming, line 5 on which 85,000 passengers per day are expected, the extension of line 1 to the Gare Sud de France. As a reminder, a TGV is 450 to 500 passengers… That's going to make more people on the tram."

I subscribe to read the rest