“Due to the reduced availability of rolling stock, an exceptional paratransit plan will apply from Monday, September 4, 2023 and until further notice”. This short message, posted Thursday on account X (Twitter) of TER Pays-de-la-Loirecauses controversy before a probable mess for the 2,000 users of the Aléop network concerned.
According to the regional council, 17 trains will indeed be removed (or replaced by coaches) from the start of the school year on important lines, such as Nantes-Ancenis, Nantes-Pornic and Angers-Laval. “A situation which should last until October and which the carrier explains by an immobilization of trains”, deplores the regional council in a press release. Disturbances “linked to the resurgence of animal collisions, tensions on the staff of technicians and the unavailability of neighboring maintenance centers to intervene on damaged trains”.
“Unacceptable” situation
But while the regional council considers this situation “unacceptable”, the opposition accuses it of being responsible for it. “This announcement three days before the start of the school year is indicative of a regional majority which refuses to give priority to the train and alternatives to the individual car”, believe the elected representatives of the group L’Ecologie ensemble.
The president of the region, Christelle Morançais (ex-LR), announces that she will meet with the general manager of SNCF Voyageurs to express her “strong dissatisfaction”.