Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002520/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Marina Mesure (The Left)
In the 1980s, the French rail network was one of the most extensive in Europe and was world-renowned for its quality. Today, however, it is at risk more than ever, thanks to the Commission’s neoliberal policies, which run counter to its own target of doubling rail freight by 2050.
The winding up of the sole public rail transport operator, Fret SNCF – a decision that was made in the wake a procedure launched by the Commission against the French State for ‘unlawful aid not in line with competition rules’ – meant offloading 23 of the most profitable flows, the divestment of some 60 locomotives and the loss of 500 jobs. It represents between 300 000 and 520 000 more lorries on our roads at a time when the transport sector accounts for 31 % of CO2 emissions.
- 1.Have the 23 flows in question been resumed?
- 2.If so, to which operators have they been allocated?
- 3.What does the Commission intend to do to achieve its ambitious target of doubling the volume of goods transported by rail by 2050?
Submitted: 23.6.2025