Monaco and Regional Leaders Discuss Rail Disruption Plans on Nice-Vintimille Line

Monaco’s Minister of Infrastructure, Environment, and Urban Planning, Céline Caron-Dagioni, recently convened with Jean-Pierre Serrus, Vice President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, and representatives from SNCF Voyageurs and SNCF Réseau to discuss imminent rail works on the Nice-Vintimille line. The infrastructure improvements are set to enhance accessibility at Villefranche-sur-Mer station, update overhead lines near Monaco, conduct repairs in the Saint-Laurent tunnel, and establish a new transport hub at Beaulieu-sur-Mer station. These works necessitate nightly rail service suspensions from 21:00 to 06:00, Sunday through Thursday.

During the meeting, concerns were raised regarding the proposed substitution plan for the duration of the rail disruptions, focusing on its inadequacy in meeting commuter needs and its potential impact on local events, including football matches. The Monaco government and regional officials were particularly dissatisfied with the initial plan, prompting a request for adjustments in the work schedule and further mitigation strategies to alleviate commuter inconvenience.

Despite requests to delay the commencement of the rail works, SNCF Réseau confirmed that operations will begin on September 15, albeit with a slight concession to delay nightly disruptions until 22:45 for several days. This modification aims to minimize the impact on the last train service at 23:30. The Monaco government remains engaged and is scheduled to hold a follow-up meeting on September 16 to further address these issues and refine the approach to ensure minimal disruption to the public.