A new rail operator plans to launch connections from the Pink City. Railcoop wants to open two lines: Toulouse-Saint-Brieuc and Toulouse-Caen (via Le Mans). The cooperative company, headquartered in Figeac (Lot), wants to relaunch desserts across France that are not used by SNCF – a great bet that travelers from Occitania could soon take advantage of.
The very first Railcoop-stamped passenger line should open next year between Lyon and Bordeaux. A link abandoned by SNCF since 2014.
First scheduled for June, this reopening was announced in December 2022. “We had no certainty from SNCF Réseau on obtaining hourly train paths. We are wiping the plaster a bit ”regrets Alexandra Deboisieux, Director of Railcoop. The operator wishes to offer travelers two daily round trips between Lyon and Bordeaux. Twelve stations will be served, including Périgueux, Limoges, Roanne. “We are working on an offer of attractive prices for users, on the principle of what carpooling offers” continues the manager.

Citizen project

To travel between the two regional capitals, the ticket will cost around 40 euros for a 7h30 journey. Defending a citizen project, Railcoop nearly 10,000 members: companies, communities (including the Grand Est region, the Grand Figeac) or individuals. “They are the ones who offer the desserts. Then we do the market research. We are not in line with the logic that has prevailed at SNCF in recent years and which aims to reduce costs. Our goal is to create new desserts ”insists Alexandra Deboisieux.
After Lyon-Bordeaux, several other lines are therefore launched, including two in December 2023 from Toulouse to Brittany and Normandy and which will serve the stations of Montauban and Cahors. Rolling stock (former TER regional trains from the Rhône-Alpes region) is being acquired before the opening of the first link. In total, Railcoop has requested the operation of ten lines from the transport regulatory authority. Cross-sectional desserts that have a strong potential for travelers. Railcoop also wishes to position itself on the freight market with the commissioning of a freight train between Toulouse Saint-Jory and Capdenac.