The Millau-Rodez railway line “must not be subject to national budgetary decisions”: angry Aveyron railway workers launch a “clearing operation”

The railway workers will meet at Laissac station, where the railway line is now covered by vegetation CC

Following the announcement by the President of the Region of the suspension of the project to rehabilitate the railway section between Séverac and Rodez, the railway workers will meet at Laissac station to "continue the fight".

Recalling that the railway was for her “a priority” and her ambition to support the small daily TER lines – after the reopenings on the right bank of the Rhône, Aubrac or, soon, between Alès and Bessèges – the President of the Region Carole Delga was much more reserved concerning the rehabilitation of the railway line between Millau and Rodez.

More specifically, the section between Séverac d’Aveyron and Rodez, abandoned since 2017, which was to be the subject of a vast renovation program, the completion of which, at an estimated cost of between 130 and 160 million euros, was to be completed by 2030. With the provision of four daily return trips adapted to school timetables and those of employees in the sector.

“The railway workers had high hopes”

Supported “toothless” by the Region's Transport Minister Jean-Luc Gibelin last May, this project is nevertheless set to bear the brunt of the budgetary restrictions announced in the local authorities. “Budgetary circumstances require us, for the time being, to suspend the Millau-Rodez or Quillan project” explained Carole Delga during her visit to Aveyron on December 11. For railway workers, it's a cold shower.

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“There was great hope to see their work tool rehabilitated after the Occitanie regional council had chosen as a priority the reopening of several lines including that of Rodez-Séverac at the end of the States General of Rail, Infrastructure and Mobility”, deplores the CGT. Calling on Millau and Rodez rail workers to “continue the fight“, Tuesday, December 17, during a “symbolic cleaning” of the railway line at Laissac station: a “clearing operation”.

“Essential link”

Deeming the possible abandonment of this “ecologically more virtuous” project to be “incomprehensible”, the union believes that “the reopening of the Rodez-Séverac line must not suffer the consequences of national budgetary decisions.” Because yes, “this line is useful” continues the CGT, with supporting evidence.

“The timetable changes of the Rodez-Millau line, made before its closure, have proven that when the trains are well positioned, they are full”, continues the CGT. “44 km long, the Rodez-Séverac railway line cannot be reduced to a purely intra-departmental vocation with the Rodez-Millau link. It is also an essential link for the Mende-Toulouse and Rodez-Béziers/Montpelier relations.” Will they be heard?

“A major role in waste transport”

Convinced of the relevance and interest of this rehabilitation project, the railway workers highlight one last advantage of the train over road transport: the transport of waste. “While our trash cans will be transported between Millau and Viviez depending on the color of the bags, with this line serving Rodez and the Arsac area, rail could play a major role in the transport of waste, similar to what is done elsewhere in France”, argues the CGT.