FRANCE: National operator SNCF Voyageurs has been awarded the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté région’s first tendered contract to operate regional passenger train services.
The région began developing a strategy for tendering the Mobigo branded regional services in 2021. The first package covers Bourgogne Ouest Nivernais services, including Dijon – Nevers, Dijon – Mâcon, Cosne – Nevers – Moulins, Nevers – Moulins – Paray – Lyon, Paray – Châlon-sur-Saône, Etang – Châlon and Paray – Dijon.
SNCF Voyageurs was the sole bidder, and the contract was awarded on May 16. It is set to run for seven years from December 2026, with an option for a further three years.
The ambition is for ‘more and better trains’, said Michel Neugnot, Vice-President of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Transports & Mobility. Services will increase by 34% from 3·8 million to 5·1 million of train-km, with an extra five daily return services on each route, four new direct connections and additional weekend trains. Journey times will be reduced by 10 to 20 min. Ridership is predicted to increase by 38% from 6·3 million to 8·7 million passengers/year. The cost to the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté will increase by €5·1m.
SNCF Voyageurs will create a dedicated subsidiary, SNCF Voyageurs Bourgogne Ouest, with a dedicated operations centre and a rolling stock maintenance facility at Nevers. ‘The offer is tailor made, robust and effective’, the operator said.
The région has begun tendering the second package, covering Paris – Dijon – Lyon services. A further two train operating tenders are planned by the région, as well as one covering ticketing.
