To develop a rail solution offering a real alternative to the individual car, the SNCF group, Lohr, and their three partners (GCK Battery, Stations-e and the Railenium Technological Research Institute) have imagined Draisy, a new rail system specially designed for rural areas. Lohr
Rail supporters are back in action with the creation of the Sud Aveyron Express collective, which is asking the SNCF to make Sud-Aveyron a test area for the experimentation of the “Draisy solution”.
After the backlash linked to the “suspension” of the Séverac-Rodez line, rail supporters are back to strike with the creation of the Sud Aveyron Express collective chaired by the mayor of Comprègnac and railway worker, Olivier Julien.
Its objective: to breathe new life into local rail and “improve rail service in our region”, confirms the president. How ? By applying for the experiment currently being conducted by the SNCF: the Draisy program.
Also read:“We'll see, it's under consideration”: the railway line project between Millau and Rodez finally abandoned ?
Draisy is a railcar – meaning a single vehicle with a driver's cab and a passenger cabin – 100% electric, intended for small railway lines, i.e. lines with little traffic. This refers to lines with “fewer than 1,500 passengers per day, which represents a third of the French national network” , we can read via the SNCF website.
The “fine service lines of the territory”, commonly called “small lines”, represent a third of the French rail network. The operation of these approximately 9,000 km of poorly electrified tracks is a major issue for rural areas.
A “light rail solution specifically designed to meet the mobility needs of rural areas” which perfectly matches the expectations of the region's inhabitants, the very young collective is pleased to say. Combining energy efficiency and adaptability, this light vehicle could revolutionize the way these lines are operated, meeting the expectations of users while respecting economic and environmental constraints.”
14 meters long, the length of a bus, weighing 20 tons less, compared to 47 for current solutions, Draisy has a range of around one hundred kilometers, can reach a maximum speed of 100 km/h and can accommodate up to 80 passengers, including 30 people seats.
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“Draisy's inner space will play the card of modularity, develops the SNCF. Bicycles and micro-freight will find their places there, while the number and type of seats (seats or benches, face to face or facing the bay windows) will evolve according to the needs of the line served. A large single-storey area will facilitate access for people with reduced mobility, as well as for pushchairs.”
Another advantage: the price. Draisy's goal is to offer a vehicle whose operating cost is 60% lower than that of a TER. An ambition that has found a definite echo among users, among the founding members of the collective, who now intend to seriously apply for the Draisy program to make South Aveyron a “test territory”.
“Together, we want to bring a constructive and innovative vision to guarantee the future of this essential infrastructure. The collective is committed to dialogue with the SNCF, local and regional authorities, as well as the State, in order to bring this project to fruition,” adds Olivier Julien.
Draisy benefits from State funding as part of France 2030. Rolling stock testing will begin in early 2027 on the Sarralbe – Kalhausen line, in Grand Est. The Draisy solution is scheduled to be marketed nationally from 2028.
By then, “the collective is asking that trains stop at Peyre, listed among the “Most Beautiful Villages in France” and at Aguessac, in order to better serve the area and facilitate access to services for residents and visitors”, the collective adds. The Séverac – Millau – Tournemire line is much more than just a railway line. It represents a vital link for residents, an opportunity for tourism and a sustainable solution to climate challenges. With the potential arrival of the Draisy, we have the opportunity to become a model for the revitalization of rural railway lines.”
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