In Ile-de-France, the situation in transport has improved, but the return to normal is not for now

The situation in Ile-de-France public transport has improved recently, but not all lines will return to normal in April, as requested by the Ile-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) organization, announced on Friday March 24 the CEO of RATP, Jean Castex. “It’s going much better, even if the account is not there yet”also declared Friday to journalists Valérie Pécresse, the president of IDFM, after having summoned the leaders of the operators concerned for a stage point.

Noting that the protest movement against the pension reform had “clearly disturbed the recovery on certain lines”, she recalled the request of the regional transport authority for a return of supply to 100% in April – even if attendance peaks on weekdays at 90% of its level before the health crisis. Disruptions since last summer are due to staff shortages, recruitment difficulties, latent strikes and increased absenteeism.

• In the Metrowhere 10 to 25% of passages were missing this fall, “there are no more scarlet lines” with less than 80% of the service provided, noted M^me Pécresse. At the last point made in early March, lines 6, 8 and 13 were “red”that’s to say ” in trouble “and lines 3, 7, 10 and 12 “fragile”. In the subway, “we are at nearly 94% production”, and the RATP would be 95.5% without the strikes, according to its CEO. According to him, the offer has returned to 100% of pre-Covid on lines 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13 and 14. Lines 4, 6 and 11 will keep a reduced offer due to works , while the 1 and 10 will return to full traffic on April 3 and the 2 and 12 on May 9. “We will be in a position to put both drivers and trains to ensure this traffic”said Mr. Castex.

• On the side of bus Parisians, there are “still some progress to be made”with 87.5% of the service performed, against 83% in January and 75% in September, also noted M^me Pécresse. Jean Castex greeted “significant progress” with 88.2% of the service provided on the buses in mid-March. “We hope to cross 90% in May”he said.

• Coast RER And commuter trainsthe B and D lines remain the most worrying, while the C, J, L, P and R lines remain to be monitored. “We are not very far away” the return to a normal offer, which should happen in April, noted the CEO of SNCF, Jean-Pierre Farandou, recalling that train traffic is still disrupted by essential work.