Construction of a Nice-Monaco metro link ‘difficult’ says French Transport Minister
Several smaller solutions are preferred to one major project
Overground train services between the two cities are often packed to capacity in summer
Irina Sleptsova/Shutterstock
Plans for an underground metro service linking Nice and Monaco have been all but ruled out by France’s Transport Minister due to its potential cost and administrative complexity
The idea has been put forward several times over the years as a way to ease congestion in the area.
This includes Nice mayor Christian Estrosi, who in 2022 publicly proposed the construction of a 10-kilometre-long tunnel linking the southern city and nearby micro-state
Tens of thousands of workers commute daily into Monaco from France, usually from Nice and its suburbs, and day-trips into Monaco are popular in the summer for some of the millions of tourists who come to the south of France.
It has led to increasing congestion on both road and rail links between the two, particularly in the tourist high-season.
However, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said last week that such a plan would be “difficult.”
This is both related to the “financial burden” of such a move, as well as the “administrative procedures” that would be required, with the minister citing the controversial and burdensome A69 project as an example of what difficulties could arise.
“I believe more in a set of solutions than in a major project that would solve all the mobility problems between Nice and Monaco,” the minister said, who is also a Senator for the Alpes-Maritimes department in which Nice is located.
This includes a park-and-ride facility, with Monaco announcing a call for tenders last year for a €1 billion project of its kind between the principality and nearby Èze.
The minister also backs the idea of a ‘Metropolitan RER’ in the area.
This is part of President Emmanuel Macron’s idea to bring Paris-style commuter rail services to 24 other major cities in France – including Nice – which in this case would also serve Monaco.
Since the start of 2025, the rail capacity on the network between Menton and Cannes has been increased by 30%, with trains running between the two every 15 minutes.
These trains pass through Nice and Monaco which are on the same stretch of track.
