The big maneuvers start on the island of Nantes. Mentioned for a long time, the relocation of rail activities hitherto always operated in the west of the island, on the SNCF site of Nantes-State, has been underway for a few days. Objective: to dismantle the many rails, sleepers, and other pylons (which are used for the storage of freight trains and for logistics activities, since the closure of the station in 1980) for a release of this vast land of 13.5 ha from here in the month of December. Certain elements of this “industrial heritage” will however be preserved.
In search of land, the town hall of Nantes wishes to clear the way to develop its “gardens of the Estuary” there from 2023, presented as “a large planted promenade which will articulate the existing districts (Prairie-au-Duc and the district of Creation) and those to come (Republic, the south-west…)”. Another objective: to enlarge this République district, with the creation of housing and new traffic routes. The creation of an urban boulevard must in particular accommodate the new north-south tramway lines which will link the Quai de la Fosse to Rezé.
“The abandonment of the railway, a mess”
Except that this project does not please everyone. No later than this Friday morning, a rally was organized on the site by a collective opposed to the approach, which was joined by several local elected officials including Andy Kerbrat (MP Nupes) or Marie Vitoux (president of the municipal group of elected environmentalists). “The abandonment of the railway on the island of Nantes is an anachronistic and absurd mess, when we have here a solution, almost turnkey, to drastically reduce car travel”, reacts the collective FER Nantes in a press release .
Opponents fear that the current rail zones in this sector may “never again accommodate a rail stop or train in the years to come”. They also demand the stoppage of works, deemed illegal.