A historic moment unfolded in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region as officials gathered in Nice to inaugurate France’s first regional train service opened to competition. This milestone, the result of a bold initiative launched in 2019, marks a major shift in the nation’s railway landscape, setting a precedent for other regions ahead of the 2034 deadline for full competition across TER networks.
The event, held on Friday, February 14, brought together key figures including Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, Monaco’s Minister of Infrastructure, Environment, and Urban Planning Céline Caron-Dagioni, regional president Renaud Muselier, Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, and SNCF Voyageurs CEO Christophe Fanichet. Together, they celebrated the official launch of the revamped Zou! train service, now operated by Sud Azur, the company selected through a competitive bidding process.
The new service, covering the busy Cannes-Nice-Menton route, has already introduced a wave of improvements aimed at transforming daily commutes along the Côte d’Azur. Trains now run every 15 minutes between 5:45 and 22:00, while extended weekend hours ensure late-night connectivity, with services running until 2:00 in the morning on Saturdays. The fleet has also undergone a major modernisation, with 22 refurbished trains featuring upgraded technology and enhanced comfort—a 164 million euro investment fully funded by the region.
To further improve the passenger experience, a new supervision and maintenance center has been established in Nice, ensuring smoother coordination of services and quicker responses to disruptions. The 62 million euro facility, also financed by the region, represents a commitment to long-term efficiency and reliability.
The initiative has already yielded impressive results. Since its introduction in December, passenger numbers have surged by 10 percent, while punctuality rates have reached 97 percent. For Renaud Muselier, this is proof that competition is a powerful tool for improving public services. “Promise kept: a higher-quality, more punctual transport service tailored to users’ needs,” he declared.
Philippe Tabarot, who has championed the project from the outset, emphasized its significance for France’s rail future. “This achievement comes nearly a decade ahead of schedule and sets a benchmark for other regions. Competition is a powerful driver of service improvement, and I hope this pioneering effort in the South will serve as an example for the rest of the country,” he stated.
Monaco, whose workforce heavily relies on regional rail connections, has also welcomed the development. Céline Caron-Dagioni reaffirmed the principality’s commitment to enhancing transport options for both employees and visitors, emphasising the strong collaboration with French authorities in shaping the mobility of the future.
Christian Estrosi highlighted the broader impact of the initiative, pointing to the region’s longstanding investment in public transport and its dedication to passenger safety. “Public transportation has always been at the heart of our policies. Beyond modernising infrastructure, we are also reinforcing security, increasing control staff by 34% on our metropolitan network to ensure safe and reliable travel,” he said.
For Christophe Fanichet, the CEO of SNCF Voyageurs, this marks the beginning of a new chapter in French rail history. “With SNCF Voyageurs Sud Azur, we are building the future of regional transport alongside the Région Sud, serving communities and their residents,” he said with pride.
As more regions prepare to follow suit in opening their TER networks to competition, all eyes will be on the Côte d’Azur to see how this ambitious transformation unfolds. For now, the people of the region are the first to experience a new standard of rail travel—one that could soon become the blueprint for France’s nationwide railway evolution.
