The long-discussed idea of a metro line linking Nice and Ventimiglia via Monaco has been officially shelved, a decision that, while disappointing for many cross-border commuters, comes as no real surprise…
As reported by Monaco Matin, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has confirmed that the project is neither financially nor technically viable, calling the concept “illusory” and pointing to the enormous structural challenges posed by the coastline.
The proposed underground link had once promised to connect Nice to Monaco in just 12 minutes, a prospect that captured public imagination and briefly reignited political debate earlier this autumn. But for daily rail users, many of whom work in the Principality, the announcement simply formalises what they long suspected.
Speaking to Monaco Matin, several commuters noted that the region’s transport system already struggles with overcrowded trains, inconsistent timetables and chronic delays. “I never really believed it,” one Monaco-based employee admitted, adding that such a project would have required “unthinkable engineering” given the cliffs, tunnels and densely built coastline. Others described the plan as “surreal,” arguing that improving existing services, or expanding the maritime shuttle, would be far more realistic.
Technical constraints aside, several passengers also raised the issue of cross-border governance. With Monaco operating under its own rules, any metro infrastructure shared with France and Italy would have required agreements at state level, adding another layer of complexity.
For now, commuters will continue relying on the Nice–Ventimiglia TER line, hoping that practical alternatives emerge in the years ahead, even if the dream of a Franco-Monegasque metro will remain just that.
