FRENCH transport minister, Mr Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, and the Bourgogne-Franche Comté region have signed an initial agreement to secure the future of 14 minor lines totalling 644km.
A total of €455m will be invested in refurbishing the lines up to 2027. Negotiations to allocate the investment according to requirements will now take place between central and regional governments.
The lines are:
- Nevers - Etang-sur-Arroux - Montchanin
- Paray-le-Monial - Gilly-sur-Loire (- Moulins)
- Paray-le-Monial - Chauffailles (- Lyon)
- Paray-le-Monial - Montchanin
- Cravant-Bazarnes - Avallon
- Cravant-Bazarnes - Clamecy
- Clamecy - Corbigny
- Lure - Luxeuil - Bains-les-Bains (- Epinal)
- Frasne - Pontarlier - les Verrières (- Neuchâtel)
- Belfort - Delle
- Franois - Arc-et-Senans
- Étang-sur-Arroux - Autun
- Besançon - Morteau - Le Locle (- La Chaux-de-Fonds), known as the ‘Watchmakers’ Line’, and
- Andelot - Champagnole - Morez - Saint-Claude, aka the ‘Swallow Line’.
A total of €6.5bn is planned to be spent on the revival of local branch lines in France over the next 10 years.
