Auvergne region is neglected by government

To the Editor,

I write regarding news that a high-speed Bordeaux-Lyon TGV service is set to launch by 2027, with the route avoiding central France and instead going north close to Paris.

Time and again, the Auvergne region is royally ignored by government agencies and the SNCF.

It is well known that “progress is only worthwhile if it is shared by everyone" (originally Aristotle, but also a former publicity catchphrase by the SNCF).

Yes, indeed – provided they live in Paris, Lille, Strasbourg, Tours, Rennes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille or Nice, but under no circumstances less than 150km from Clermont-Ferrand. 

The population of the Clermont-Ferrand metropolitan area alone, excluding the sub-prefectures of Issoire, Thiers, Riom, and Ambert is approximately 300,000.

By comparison, the population of Montbard (Côte-d'Or), as of 2021 was 4,751, yet it is served by eight TGV trains per day.

With 300,000 people in the Clermont agglomération, this is more than Hendaye, Bayonne, Biarritz (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) and Dax (Landes) combined, yet each of these cities will be served by new connections.

And, on the way to Clermont-Ferrand, Nevers, Moulins, and Vichy can be served ie. the prefecture of Nièvre, the prefecture of Allier, and one of its two sub-prefectures.

"Oh, but the terrain is difficult and mountainous…" Oh really? When it came to linking up Italy, via the Alps, they found the solutions and the budget!

It is about time that the Auvergne region revolted and declared its independence.

P.D., Puy-de-Dôme

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