Train fare rise to fund track repairs
Transport secretary says it is 'completely reasonable' that public should pay more towards cost of maintaining network
TRAIN fares in France are set to rise in the New Year, after the government said it was in favour of making passengers contribute to the cost of renovating the country's ageing rail network.
The new transport secretary, Thierry Mariani, told Europe 1 this weekend that it was "completely reasonable" to increase ticket prices in line with inflation to help pay for track maintenance.
Track operator Reseau Ferré de France claimed last week that 20 per cent of the French network could become unusable by 2020 because of a lack of guaranteed, long-term funding.
The public body wants to increase the fees it charges the SNCF to run trains. It says maintaining the network costs €6.5bn a year and its current annual income is €1.1bn short.
Train fares in France rose up by 2.5 per cent in June for Corail and Intercités services, and by 1.9 per cent in January for TGVs. The increase came after a 3.5 per cent rise in the average price of a ticket in 2009.
Rail workers' union Sud said it was unacceptable that the government, which had failed to invest significantly in maintenance over the years, was now trying to pass on the cost to consumers.
Jean-Claude Delarue, president of rail users' watchdog Fnaut, added: "Passengers have had enough. It is the state's fault for not having renovated the network for the past 20 years."
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