A new setback for the government in the budget battle. At the end of Monday night, the deputies approved by 78 votes against 54, very early on Tuesday morning, an amendment that provides for an additional three billion euros for the development of the railway in France. An amendment that did not have the support of the executive.
Defended by PS, LFI and LR, this amendment aims to “invest” in the train at a time when complaints about the lack of investment in the rail network are increasing, such as calls from the foot of the SNCF.
Avoid line closures
Even so, the government will have the possibility to reject this amendment since it intends to press 49.3 again so that this expenditure component of the State budget is approved without a vote.
Let us remember that the head of the SNCF has quantified the need for investment in the railway an additional 100,000 million euros over 15 years to contribute to the decarbonisation of transport by doubling the train fee.
In a column published by The world Last July, addressed to the Prime Minister, Jean Rottner, president of the Grand-Est region, clearly showed his concern, believing that without a financial “jump”, we will have to wait for “more and more line closures”.
“Let’s be clear, the aging of the network will very quickly lead to more and more line closures (…) The consequence is simple: the system pushes to reduce traffic and any policy of increasing supply is destined to fail. I call in a jump to save the French railway whose model is out of breath, “he worried.
Source: BFM TV
