Nupes/EELV MP Christine Arrighi does not believe in the start of work in 2024
The subject has continued to rebound in recent days. In an article of June 26, France Bleu Occitanie exposed the position of the Nupes deputies of Haute-Garonne on the use of transport. Those who are required to make a round trip Toulouse-Paris per week, François Piquemal, Christophe Bex and Christine Arrighi explained that they preferred to take the TGV or the night train, certainly longer but less polluting. , the subject of the use of airplanes Since over short distances came back to the table, while the LGV Sud-Ouest file experienced some upheavals on June 30 after the resounding statement by the EELV mayor of Bordeaux.
You made the rounds of the media after the article in France Bleu Occitanie on the boycott of the plane by the Nupes deputies in favor of the train. This is a good thing ?
Being able to talk about it yes, we intend to continue to promote the train. We are not boycotting the plane, but the train should be favored over the plane, especially on domestic flights. The Climate law will prohibit flights when there is an alternative-train of less than 2h30 (NDLR Paris Strasbourg for example). On the Paris-Toulouse, you can take the TGV or the night train, a sleeper train. I left Paris-Austerlitz at 9:45 p.m. yesterday and arrived in Toulouse-Matabiau at 6:42 a.m. this morning. And during the trip, we sleep… let’s say “relatively” well. I also plead for a layout of the wagons which are not comfortable enough.
So you will be the MP who will defend the train but not aeronautics?
I do not put one against the other. I say that in a context of climate change, we must take action. Transport is 30% of greenhouse gases. The train is much less polluting than the plane during take-off and landing. Of course, the question of aeronautical employment is always a subject which is opposed to us. It also makes more work for the train and building trains. At some point, within the framework of an ecological bifurcation, we must make the right decisions, anticipate industrial bifurcations as well. And there are many skills that can be used, those of engineers, for the development of the train without it being the death of aeronautics.
It is clear that the RN vote is massive in areas poorly served by train.
What do we have to do ? Launch a Marshall train plan?
Yes, we must launch a Marshall train plan. Today, we are investing 2.8 billion euros for 28,000 kilometers of network in France. It’s 3 billion in Austria for 6,100 kilometers, we can see that we are not at all at the rendezvous.
How do you view the opening up to competition, with the possible entry of private operators into the rail sector?
The SNCF has abandoned lines, because its budget is not sufficient. So the question of competition is not a subject in itself. The important question is that of the public service of the train which must effectively irrigate the whole of our territory. I point out that if we relate the map of the network and the train to the map of the RN vote, we realize that it is there or it is the least well served that the RN vote is the strongest. So that means that when there is no public service, no transport, well people feel neglected. They don’t have the option of doing anything other than by car. The car is the most polluting factor.
You saw yesterday that the EELV mayor of Bordeaux set things on fire by announcing that part of the European funding for the GPSO project, which includes the future LGV between Bordeaux and Toulouse, is not assured. Do you agree with him?
It was not Pierre Hurmic who ignited the powder. The reality is that the financing plan as it was presented to all the local authorities, some of which did not vote for it, is not a sincere plan since the 20% which was to be taken supported by Europe does not seem to be.
The refused subsidy in question is 17.3 million euros, or 0.1% of the total cost of this major project….
According to the figures we have, which will have to be updated, 14 billion euros, 20%, the subsidy expected from Europe is 2.8 billion euros. This figure is the financing of SNCF Réseau for the whole year. It’s not nothing.
The financing plan for this LGV presented to the communities is not sincere.
Are you fiercely opposed to the LGV Toulouse Bordeaux?
We are fiercely opposed to anything. We are for local transport, for the development of the existing track which will save an hour on the current route, against 1h15 for the LGV. Our investment proposal is 4.5 billion, against 14 for the LGV. I want us to renovate the existingnot against the LGV.
So the start of work on this LGV in 2024, as promised by Jean Castex, you don’t believe it?
No, I don’t believe it. And all the signals as given to us that we had alerted to would seem canceled that we were right once again.”