The Hauts-de-France region is raising its voice in the face of train cancellations and serial delays. Exchanges had been more cordial with the regional management of the SNCF since March, when the region had resumed its monthly payments. But this time, she refuses to pay the month in arrears, even if the payments for the next few months will be made.
“Either in denial or incompetence”
It all started with a letter, received by the regional president Xavier Bertrand on Monday June 20. In this letter, the regional director of the SNCF claims 44 million euros in arrears by June 30. “The day this gentleman had the cheek to write this letter, in the region there were 126 train cancellations, a cancellation rate of 10% where it should be less than 3%. a shame !” launched the regional president during the plenary session on Thursday.
Xavier Bertrand also points out the delays with a train regularity rate which, according to him, would be 86% instead of the 97% expected. He is surprised that the region itself sometimes warns the management of the SNCF of the problems via feedback from users. “They can only blame themselves if there are these backlogs today. Despite the commitments that have been made and which have not been respected, either we are in denial or in incompetence on the part of members of the most notorious regional management.”
The regional director of the SNCF on the departure
For its vice-president in charge of mobility, Franck Dhersin, the date of sending this letter is not insignificant: “The SNCF regional director is leaving for a promotion, I’m very happy for him, but I don’t think he would have written this if he had stayed…“. He explains that he is not targeting SNCF employees, “drivers do what they can”but he points to the “disorganization” of management. “I also blame the State for not putting the means so that the SNCF can offer a normal service!”
Contacted, the regional direction of the SNCF did not answer to our requests.