In its study published on Tuesday, the consumer association highlights the unreliability of regional trains.
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Nearly one in five TER trains does not meet punctuality requirements. This is demonstrated by a study published on Tuesday, September 10 by UFC-Que Choisir. The association points out the lack of reliability of regional trains.
According to figures from the Transport Regulatory Authority analyzed by UFC-Que Choisir, in 2023, 9.6% of TER trains were rescheduled or canceled. And among the trains that actually ran, 11.2% arrived at their destination at least five minutes late. According to the consumer association, this is “a poor performance compared to our European neighbours”.
Contacted by franceinfo, the SNCF responded that “this performance remained constant in 2023, despite an unfavorable external context”invoking “significant external hazards”including storm Ciaran, in October 2023. The SNCF also highlights a 20% increase in TER ridership between 2019 and 2023, and underlines that “this trend will continue in 2024 (+10% traffic this summer compared to summer 2023)”. She is also satisfied with the “first eight months of 2024”during which “the quality of service observed is also improving compared to 2023”.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that the car represents 74% of daily home-work trips, while public transport is used in 16% of cases. Walking and cycling together only account for 8% of these trips. “Environmental issues, but also those of purchasing power, require more than ever that everything be done to reduce the use of individual vehicles”argues the association, which notes that “nearly 67% of French people live less than 10 minutes by road from a TER station”She believes that the regional councils, which organise regional transport, have “a central responsibility in the quality of the TER offer proposed”.
UFC-Que Choisir therefore calls on public authorities to “finally act to improve the situation”She asks that they be strengthened “quality incentives for carriers” and that it is planned “systematic compensation for consumers who are victims of recurring delays”.
