SNCF Réseau at the Council of State: the regions denounce a lack of transparency

The eight regions which are attacking SNCF Réseau's tariff increases before the Council of State saw the public rapporteur confirm their arguments in session on Monday February 12.

After recalling the "insufficiency" of the Network Reference Document (DRR) of SNCF Réseau, in particular the lack of quantified data, and an insufficient time for consultation of the regions, the public rapporteur Dorothée Pradines affirmed the presence of "numerous reasons irregularities" in the SNCF Réseau document.

“The methodology used in cash lacks transparency,” she added.

Eight regions (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Centre-Val de Loire, Hauts-de-France, Ile-de-France, Occitanie, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Grand Est) are contesting the increases required for the years 2024 , 2025 and 2026 by SNCF Réseau to operate regional express trains (TER), which they finance, in addition to tickets and subscriptions paid by users.

During the hearing, Ms Pradines notably questioned the methods of SNCF Réseau, citing a "lack of knowledge of the pricing rules" in the context of the circulation charge.

For Guillaume Hannotin, the regions' lawyer, "as long as there is no transparency on the method of setting prices, it is very difficult for stakeholders to verify the sustainable nature of the price".

The regions also contested an opinion from the Transport Regulatory Authority (ART) which validated these price increases, but they were rejected at the end of January by the Council of State.

The increase in tolls reached 8% on average for the year 2024 for this type of transport, SNCF Réseau indicated, after years of increases below inflation. This subsidiary, which manages and maintains the expensive SNCF network, aims with these increases to achieve financial balance in 2024.