In a first for France, the state’s SNCF rail operator will lose the right to run the regional train service between Nice and Marseille. The decision by elected representatives of the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur was carried by a large majority on Thursday, October 28.
“This is a historic step and a first in France,” the president of the region, Renaud Muselier, said.
The concession has been awarded to Transdev for 10 years from 2025 and is valued at 870 million euros.
However, there will be no direct impact in Monaco as the service between Cannes and Ventimiglia will remain in the hands of SNCF, the only bidder.
The European Union has rules that all regional train services should be open to competition from 2023.
FILE PHOTO: It can be a long wait for a train at Monaco Monte-Carlo Jack Brodie
