Very energy-intensive, the SNCF would have been asked by the government to work on several scenarios in order to reduce its traffic in the event of electricity shortages this winter.
Less TGV, less TER, less Intercités, this is more or less the scenario that would be envisaged by the SNCF this winter to deal with a possible energy crisis. According to our colleagues from Parisianthe government would have asked the company to work on several plans in order to reduce energy consumption this winter.
It must be said that the transport company is very greedy in electricity. With nearly 15,000 trains in circulation each day, the SNCF consumes as much, or even more, than Paris and Marseille combined each year. That is between 1% and 2% of annual consumption in France.
“We will adapt”
Contacted by Le Parisien, the SNCF confirms that it is working on “all scenarios“but assures not” to favor any “and will adapt to the requests of the government.
An executive of the company also indicates that it is normal to work on disaster scenarios but doubts the effectiveness of such a reduction in traffic to simply lower the electricity consumption of the transport company.
“I don’t see how, politically and socially, it (the government’s editor’s note) will be able to ask for the implementation of a sufficiently degraded transport plan to have a real impact on electricity consumption without any other strong measure. obligation for companies to put telecommuting employees. Otherwise, it means travelers who stay on the platform or crammed into trains, and presidents of Regions (who manage the TER) who cry foul”, he explains.
This request from the government is part of the grand plan to energy sobriety asked companies to prevent a possible energy crisis this winter.
400 million euros of electricity bill
An approach already undertaken by the SNCF which for several years has equipped its trains with an eco-driving system in order to save money during journeys. Because with nearly 400 million euros disbursed each year to cover electricity bills, the SNCF must also prepare for the explosion of its energy budget In the coming months.
On his side, Clement Beaune, Minister of Transport, does not want to see the use of the train decrease due to degraded traffic conditions. “We must strengthen our efforts in the transport sector in view of its high energy consumption. But it is clear that our priority is to encourage the use of the train, not to make it less attractive”, indicates- he to our colleagues.
In The echoesa spokeswoman for the ministry intends to “hunt down energy waste” without asking companies or public services “to lower or cease their activity”.