The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in southwestern France has selected SNCF Voyageurs to operate TER rail services in the Poitou-Charentes area of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, following a tender process launched in 2023.
The Poitou-Charentes lot is the first to be subject to a tender launched by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region as part of the opening of competition in regional rail transport. It includes the following six lines, currently used by approximately 14,000 passengers daily: This contract represented a major strategic opportunity for SNCF Voyageurs, which has strong roots in this region. The company’s teams worked intensively to propose a solid, innovative, and balanced bid, in line with the Region’s high ambitions for the future of mobility in Poitou-Charentes.
- Châtellerault – Poitiers – Angoulême (Line 12);
- Angoulême – Bordeaux (Line 13);
- Poitiers – Niort – La Rochelle (Line 14);
- La Rochelle – Saintes – Bordeaux (Line 15);
- Angoulême – Saintes – Royan (Line 16);
- Niort – Saintes – Royan (Line 17).
The proposal is based on an in-depth analysis of the regional authority’s expectations and passengers’ needs. It aims to precisely meet the requirements of the tender specifications, combining a significant increase in rail service offerings, a high level of service quality, and a sustainable economic trajectory.
A dedicated company for TER rail services
SNCF Voyageurs Terre Atlantique will be the dedicated company responsible for operating the lines in Poitou-Charentes on behalf of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region for a period of 10 years starting in December 2027, as well as maintaining the 44 trains allocated to this contract. Maintenance will be carried out at the technical center in Saintes. The value of the future contract is estimated at 965 million euros.
Starting in December 2027, passengers in Poitou-Charentes will benefit from 22 additional trains every weekday. This increase in service will meet the growing demand for rail travel and will directly contribute to the region’s appeal and dynamism.
This first success in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region rewards the commitment and expertise of our teams in building a robust and innovative service that meets the expectations of the Region and its passengers. “Through SNCF Voyageurs Terre Atlantique, we will be fully committed to providing the highest quality of service and meeting the demands of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region,” said Christophe Fanichet, President of SNCF Voyageurs.
It should be noted that at the end of 2023, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and SNCF Voyageurs signed a seven-year contract, covering the period 2024–2030, to provide regional TER services. The contract also involves improving service quality with a goal of reducing delays by 34%, as well as increasing service by over 8%, or 60 trains per day. The agreement for the period 2024–2030 provides for investments of 513 million euros in rolling stock maintenance, stations, and maintenance centers. The goal is to increase rail services by 8.2% (i.e., 60 trains per day), which will result in the introduction of an additional 22,000 trains per year by 2030.
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