Under the New Rail Pact law, Île-de-France Mobility can start inviting bids for concessions to operate eight commuter rail lines currently operated by SNCF Transilien from January 1 2023. This would be followed by launching competitive tendering for the RER network starting with Line E in 2025, lines C and D between 2033 and 2039, and lines A and B on January 1 2040. However, other French regions can put all their lines out to competition from 2023.
Île-de-France Mobility is seeking government approval to modify the law to open RER, metro and light rail lines to competition before 2030. If approved, Île-de-France Mobility will issue a prior information notice this year and work with existing operators and SNCF Network to draw up specifications for the concessions covering things such as personnel and equipment.
New timetable
At the end this year, Île-de-France Mobility will decide which lines to put out to tender between 2023 and 2025. Île-de-France Mobility want to priorities commuter rail lines J, P and R.
Calls for expressions of interest will be invited in 2021. This will allow discussions to start with potential candidates and hear their recommendations.
Tender procedures and the selection of the operator for the first lines will take place between the end of 2021 and the end of 2022. The new operator will then have most of 2023 to prepare to take over the operation of the first lines by the end of that year.
Île de France Mobility wants to improve service quality, achieve greater operator responsiveness, find innovative solutions and improve passenger information. It also wants to improve efficiency in order to procure a better rail service for Ile-de-France residents without increasing operating costs. Île de France Mobility is particularly concerned about the poor quality of the service provided on lines J, P, and R.
“Île-de-France was particularly affected during the strikes,” says Ms Valérie Pécresse, president of Île-de-France Mobility and president of the Île-de-France Region. “Among the lessons that I draw from this painful episode for many Ile-de-France residents, the acceleration of competition is a priority to lower costs and increase quality of service. My goal is to revitalise the entire public mobility service by making Ile-de-France Mobility the region’s transport coordinator.”
