TRUE OR FAKE. Rail freight between France and Italy has decreased enormously, as left-wing figures claim?

Oppositees to the new Lyon/Turin line, several left-wing personalities highlight the existing rail line on this route. It would be underused according to their statements. “In 20 years, rail freight between France and Italy has been divided by five”, noted Sandrine Rousseau, on June 16 on France info.

The railway line that already exists joined Lyon (Rhône) in Turin (Italy), through a tunnel under the Mont Cenis. It is an old structure, built 150 years ago. In 2000, 8.6 tonnes of goods passed through this tunnel. It was only 2.7 tons in 2021, a division by three. There is therefore a strong decrease, but Sandrine Rousseau and Jean-Luc Mélenchon exaggeratent this decline.

A decrease due to the dilapidation of the tunnel

How to explain the decline? The Ministry of Transport highlights the dilapidation of the tunnel: “Although the historic tunnel was indeed able to transport approximately 10 million tonnes in the 1980s, the safety constraints in place today prevent it from being able to be attreach such levels”. The version is confirmed by a note from SNVSF network that points “the absence of a refuge accessible from the outside, or a separate tube that can serve as a refuge”.

This shave as manyarguments which explain the decline on this route in favor of road transport. In the Alps, 93% of goods transport is done by truck.

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