Page 44 - Monaco Economy 130-2
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           Le futur Pôle d’échanges multimodal de Saint-Augustin / Future Saint-Augustin multimodal exchange hub
          Avignon. The protocol relating to the mobility   benefit the Principality, its residents and   consequences”. “The new line plans to cross
          section of the State-Region Plan Contract   tourists. It will make it easy to reach the   the Massif de l'Estérel, notably by building a
          (CPER) provides for €1.5 billion of investment   airport by train from Monaco, and to Monaco   tunnel”, argues the municipality. It is true that
          in transport between now and 2027.  as well! This will help avoid traffic jams and   we're a long way from the initial high-speed
                                              boost intermodality. It is already possible to   (LGV) project linking Paris to Nice in 3 hours
          Nice Airport Just a Train Ride Away!  stop at Nice-Saint Augustin and take the last   50 minutes ... a project that was abandoned
          Certain existing stations are to be upgraded,   tram to catch your plane...  to prioritise daily trains. On the other hand, we
          and new rail facilities and stations are to be   Other projects are planned as part of the   are closer to the partly buried metro project
          created as another key measure in the LNPCA   LNCPA: the creation of 2 platform tracks at   between Nice and Monaco, advocated by the
          project, particularly in Marseille and Cannes.   Nice city station to increase capacity and   Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, and by the
          “In Nice, the new TER and TGV station is one   regularity by making the train service more   elected members of the Monegasque National
          of the structural bases of the Nice Eco-Valley   efficient, and the construction of 5 sidings at   Council. Why create a costly and complex
          National Interest Operation. In the immediate   Nice Saint-Roch to park and maintain the 50%   new infrastructure if the train service is finally
          vicinity of France's third largest airport, it will   additional TER trains.  fulfilling its public service mission?
          also be directly connected to the new bus
          stations, tramlines, cycle paths and the green   Opposition to the Project   *Work on phase 1 will begin in 2025, with successive
          corridor linking the Promenade des Anglais   The fact remains that this project is not   phases from 2028 to 2030. Work on phase 2 will start
          to the future exhibition centre, making this   to everyone's liking, and has given rise to   in 2027/2028.
          eco-designed multimodal hub one of the most   opposition from environmental associations
          successful in France”, explain the authorities.   and local authorities. “As in the case of Saint-
          The new rail infrastructure, due to come into   Raphaël: This is no longer a high-speed line
          service at the end of 2028, will accommodate   (LGV) project, but simply a new line on a
          3.8 million passengers a year, or just over   reduced section of its route. The commercial
          10,000 a day. Eventually, the project will be   speed of the trains will be capped at 250 kph
          able to accommodate the long awaited 6 trains   on just one section, which will not bring any
          an hour in a 4-track station, then 6 tracks at   time savings. (...) According to expert analysis,
          a later date (the current Nice St Augustin   the failure to invest in rail maintenance has
          station only accommodates TER trains on 2   resulted in more time needed to travel between
          platform tracks). The cost of the project: €235   Marseille and Nice: whereas in 1978 it took
          million (40% State, 40% local authorities, €5   2 hours and 6 minutes, it now takes 2 hours
          million financed by the Metropolitan Region,   38 minutes. The plan is to reduce travel time
          20% Europe).                        to 2 hours 18 minutes”, the City explains,                              © DepositPhotos
          This new “Nice – Airport” station will also   warning of “serious economic and ecological

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