RAILCOOP, a cooperative enterprise which intends to operate passenger trains over routes neglected by French National Railways (SNCF), has again delayed the launch of its inaugural Bordeaux - Lyon service, after first delaying the launch from June 26 2022 to December 11 2022.
A new date for the launch is still under discussion.
The company is facing problems raising the capital funding necessary to launch the service and is also still in negotiations over the time needed to refurbish the former SNCF class X 72500 DMUs it has acquired for the service. Railcoop has contracted ACCM, based in Clermont-Ferrand, to carry out the refurbishment and maintenance of the units, with Alstom and CAF unsuccessful bidders.
Railcoop launched a freight service from Capdenac to Toulouse in November 2021. This is currently running twice a week but will increase to daily from May thanks to new traffic. Railcoop has so far raised €7m from 12,000 shareholders.
