More trains, coaches with a high level of service, single ticketing… what the Montpellier SERM contains to facilitate mobility

The project plans in particular to increase the frequency of trains on the Sète-Montpellier-Lunel-Nîmes axis. Midi Libre – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH

Jean-Luc Gibelin, the vice-president of the Occitanie Region in charge of mobility, and the president of the Montpellier Metropolis Michaël Delafosse, surrounded by their institutional partners, unveiled this Thursday, May 23, the copy that’ they will give back to the State to promote collective transport and thus preserve air quality and the living environment. Here's what you need to remember.

A real "shock of public transport offers". This is the promise of the Metropolitan Regional Express Service (SERM) project unveiled this Thursday by the Occitanie Region and the Montpellier Metropolis, to promote collective transport in the urban area of ​​Montpellier and thus decongest road routes. always more saturated, therefore polluted… and whose attendance is expected to increase by another 20% by 2030 in the absence of an alternative. This responds to the government's plan to allow the emergence of new mobility projects, particularly in the face of public health issues. Jean-Luc Gibelin and Michaël Delafosse, surrounded by numerous elected officials from neighboring intercommunalities, "proof of the general mobilization of an entire territory", have detailed the main points of this file for which they hope to obtain the approval of the State… and above all the financing that goes with it.

1- A strengthening of the rail offer

Carole Delga reminded us that the Region has taken advantage of the Nîmes-Montpellier TGV bypass in recent years to increase rail supply by 21%. This does not prevent the TER Sète-Montpellier-Lunel-Nîmes axis from being regularly saturated. The SERM therefore plans, on this major coastal line, to increase the frequency of trains during peak hours, with six trains per hour, therefore every ten minutes, by 2034. Without waiting for this deadline, supply will also increase during off-peak times and on weekends. Within five years, there should be 24% additional trains with eight more, each day, between Montpellier and Nîmes and twelve more from Lunel to Sète.

In addition, to develop intermodality, the stations of Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone and Saint-Césaire (in Nîmes) will be reinforced to become &quot ;entrance gates", a role currently played by the Baillargues multimodal exchange hub (PEM). Additional stops will be created within the Montpellier area, notably that of Sablassou in Castelnau-le-Lez. And investigations will make it possible to determine where to create new PEMs along the line, with large car parks and the arrival of coach lines, to encourage transfer towards the train.

The cost of these railway investments, between station developments and PEM, and the purchase of rolling stock, is currently estimated at 353 million euros, to which must be added the costs of transport. rsquo;operation of 34.5 M€ per year.

2- The creation of an express coach network

This, assure Carole Delga and Michaël Delafosse, is the specificity of this Montpellier SERM. Many municipalities in the Montpellier urban area and beyond are not directly served by the rail network, particularly in the hinterland, the objective is to facilitate the circulation of express coaches on major roads, notably the A750, either already existing lines or new ones, but with the promise of improved journey times through the development of their own sites and reserved lanes dissociating from road traffic. These buses, more ecological (hybrid, electric, hydrogen), with a redesigned timing (a frequency of 10 to 15 minutes during peak hours) and with a timetable of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., will have to connect with the future bustrams with a high level of service in the Montpellier Metropolis.

Several express coach lines have already been mentioned, leaving from Gignac (2025), Saint-Gély-du-Fesc (2027), Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréveils (2027), Mauguio (2027) or Poussan (2028). They will be connected, via the LIO regional network, to the main towns of the hinterland: Lodève, Gignac, Ganges, Pézenas, Sommières…

Two of the four bustram lines carried by the Montpellier Metropolis integrate the SERM, those coming from Castries (2027) and Cournonsec (2027). Others could follow, by 2034, depending on the new road infrastructure (COM Ouest, requalification of the A709…) which will then be designed with reserved lanes for public transport. The promise is to offer a frequency of 10 to 15 minutes during peak hours and a time range of 5 a.m. to midnight.

The investment is more difficult to measure, but by integrating the two lines of the Metropolis bustram, it should exceed 150 million euros, for an overall cost of ;operation of nearly 30 M€ per year.

The SERM map presented by Carole Delga and Michaël Delafosse this Thursday. Occitanie region

3- Simpler ticketing, digital tools

"The success of the future SERM lies in its ability to combine the strengths of rail networks, buses and coaches with a high level of service, carpooling or even cycling to offer a range of transport able to reduce individual trips by car in the Montpellier attraction area", analyze Carole Delga and Michaël Delafosse. Thus, the establishment of a single transport ticket is an avenue explored within the framework of this future SERM to allow the user to combine these different modes of public collective transport. "In terms of mobility, it is essential to think about usage and encourage the continuity of public transport, independently of the competent authorities". Digital tools on smartphones should make it easy to buy a ticket, view traffic in real time, plan your route or even know where to park your bike.

4- A new structure to carry the SERM

The law, passed on December 27, 2023, provides that SERMs will be the subject of consultation between State, Region, mobility organizing authorities and departments. And that, for its implementation, local authorities, public establishments and transport companies constitute "a public interest group". This support structure will make it possible to bring together the skills but also (and above all) the financing necessary for the new mobilities of the SERM. In addition to the hoped-for and even "indispensable" contribution from the State, a lifting of dedicated tax resources and adapted to finance the operation of the SERM "will be necessary", specify Carole Delga and Michaël Delafosse.

You still need to obtain this SERM status. The joint declaration, this Thursday, May 23, is "the founding act" of this Montpellier metropolitan regional express service. The official submission of the project summary will take place in November 2024, one month before the verdict rendered by the Minister of Transport on the selected projects.

5- What calendar?

If the SERM Montpellier Méditerranée passes the first stage and receives the green light from the government at the end of the year, the first express coaches will see the light of day between 2025 and 2027. By 2028, new multimodal exchange hubs can be built, notably that of Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone. And it’s in ten years, i.e. in 2034, that the new railway timing will be realized… also thanks to the commissioning of the LGV Montpellier-Perpignan line.

6- A shared will… sufficient ?

Carole Delga and Michaël Delafosse recalled their actions in favor of mobility. Strengthening regional trains, free use for young people, 1&euro train; for the Region; free transport for residents of the Metropolis, creation of tram line 5, extension of line 1, new busram offer, development of a cycle network in Montpellier. They make this SERM project "a social issue, a public health and climate issue, an economic and territorial issue" . And they managed to bring around the table, representatives of many neighboring communities of Montpellier, whose inhabitants regularly come to the central city, "i.e. nine partner intercommunities", up to that of Nîmes Métropole. The will is manifest. Will it be enough?? Today there are more than thirty projects across the national territory, including that of Toulouse in the region… while President Macron had announced the creation, initially, of only 13 SERMs. Suffice to say that you will have to be convincing not to just watch the financing train go by.