Monaco Calls for Emergency Meeting Over Disrupted Rail Link

The Principality of Monaco has expressed serious concerns about upcoming railway disruptions between Nice and Ventimiglia, prompting an urgent request for a meeting with French railway operator SNCF. The interruption is due to major infrastructure work scheduled to take place from September 15, 2024, to June 26, 2025, affecting the TER line between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday. The planned suspension of service during these hours has raised alarm among Monegasque authorities, who fear it will significantly impact workers, tourists, and visitors who rely on the rail link for daily transportation.

The only solution currently offered by SNCF is a special bus service running from Monaco to Nice, limited to SNCF subscribers. The Principality has criticized this measure as insufficient, noting that it fails to accommodate the many cross-border workers who commute to Monaco each day, as well as professionals and tourists traveling to the city for evening events.

During a private session with Monaco’s National Council, the newly appointed Minister of State, Didier Guillaume, expressed his dismay over the announcement. “I am deeply shocked to learn that trains will no longer stop in Monaco after 9 p.m. This is unacceptable. We must be respected with a certain level of service and not be treated simply as financial backers,” he stated.

While the government acknowledges the importance of the work aimed at improving the railway infrastructure, officials have called for an immediate meeting with SNCF and the PACA Region to discuss more comprehensive solutions. Monaco’s government insists on the need for dialogue to ensure that the rail service remains functional during the construction period, safeguarding the economic and social life of the Principality.

SNCF has explained that the construction work is intended to improve the electrical supply for trains and reinforce the tunnel structure in the area of Saint-Laurent, near Èze-sur-Mer. Despite these assurances, the disruption continues to be a point of contention as Monaco pushes for a solution that better meets the needs of its residents and workforce.

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