Caught between the deadlines set by the European Union to avoid losing funding, France has clarified its approach to the new Turin-Lyon railway. The decision is somewhat balanced: the original plan to create a new route from the Mont Cenis tunnel exit in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Lyon is still on the table, but priority is given to the Dijon route.
In its study of planned investments for the next three years, Sncf Réseau confirms what was initially an assumption supported by a report from the Conseil d'Orientation des Infrastructures, a consultative body of the French Ministry of Transport. The intention is to invest primarily in upgrading the Modane-Dijon route due to its more favorable cost-benefit ratio, with costs around 600 million euros compared to six billion.
Simultaneously, the French railways will also design the new line from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Lyon, including a bypass to avoid the congested railway hub of France's third most populous city. The design of the new line is expected to cost 170 million euros, with an additional 50 million needed for the Lyon bypass study. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region has contributed an extra 20 million, demonstrating France's commitment to this project.
The project will proceed under the name Grand Gabarit, referring to the large profile suitable for unrestricted intermodal transport. This confirms the prioritization of freight services over passenger services. The plan includes the construction of the Belledonne and Chartreuse tunnels, which, besides offering a more favorable route, bypass the Chambéry loop. The initial phase may involve digging a single tunnel, sufficient for the freight traffic that will use the new route for over a decade.
Considering the technical timeframes for design, construction, and completion, the Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Lyon route will be operational well after the Mont Cenis base tunnel opens. Therefore, the Modane-Dijon option, to be undertaken relatively quickly, appears realistic. This will not involve significant sacrifices, as international freight traffic with Italy already mainly heads north of France, bypassing Lyon.
A new political variable comes into play following the July 2024 parliamentary elections in France, which saw the rise of the Nouveau Front Populaire. Beyond spontaneous political declarations amid the ongoing debate for forming the new government majority, the most reliable reference is the "Legislative Contract" program by the Popular Front. This program does not question any railway projects and aims to invest in railways while prioritizing a moratorium on large highway infrastructure projects in the short term.
Piermario Curti Sacchi
