Charles Pinard TU Delft 24 05 2013 MSc TIL Thesis Project Institutional and technical requirements for a new operator to run a French Intercity line The case of Nantes-Bordeaux Charles Pinard – MSc Thesis Project TU Delft Contents Preface................................................................................................................................... iv Summary ................................................................................................................................ v 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................1 1.1. Problem Statement ....................................................................................................... 2 1.1.1. International passenger transport – officially open to competition....................... 2 1.1.2. National passenger railways – a State monopoly.................................................. 2 1.1.3. Forces pushing to open up competition................................................................. 3 1.1.4. Forces trying to stop competition.......................................................................... 3 1.1.5. Resulting trend: an experimentation as a compromise.......................................... 3 1.1.6. Problem statement................................................................................................. 3 1.2. Objective ...................................................................................................................... 3 1.3. Main question............................................................................................................... 4 1.4. Sub-questions ............................................................................................................... 4 1.5. Research Approach ...................................................................................................... 4 2. System analysis – The French railway industry and its environment......6 2.1. European overview....................................................................................................... 6 2.2. Administrative Layers in France and their impact on railways ................................... 8 2.2.1. A complex historical background that leads to resistance to change.................... 8 2.2.2. A structure characterized by the multiplicity of overlapping layers and dilution of responsibility for transport............................................................................................. 9 2.3. Organization of the railway industry in France.......................................................... 11 2.3.1. Current organization: two main actors…............................................................ 11 2.3.2. Current organization: … a multiplicity of small players..................................... 13 2.3.3. Financial flows between the railway stakeholders in France.............................. 15 2.4. The effects of regionalization of French local trains.................................................. 17 2.4.1. Development of regional trains in the last decade .............................................. 18 2.4.2. Regional disparities............................................................................................. 18 3. Introducing competition on French railways ...........................................20 3.1. Competition in freight transport................................................................................. 20 3.2. Opening up French passenger rail to competition?.................................................... 21 3.2.1. Monopolies lead to suboptimal equilibria........................................................... 21 3.2.2. Several advantages can be brought by competition, under conditions ............... 22 3.2.3. Modalities of competition ................................................................................... 22 3.2.4. Introducing competition in French railways – The Intercity network ................ 24 3.2.5. Work organization and social issues ................................................................... 24 4. Analysis of the French Intercity network .................................................26 4.1. The French Intercity Network – a leftover service between TGV and TER.............. 26 4.1.1. Intercity services depleted as TGV lines were built............................................ 26 4.1.2. Uncertain strategy reflected in tumultuous branding .......................................... 27 4.1.3. Highly heterogeneous services............................................................................ 30 4.1.4. Limited service and low traffic on most Intercity lines ...................................... 32 4.2. A lack of policy for the French Intercities ................................................................. 32 4.3. The French Intercity Network – Opportunities for development............................... 33 4.3.1. Identified success factors for an Intercity line .................................................... 33 5. Requirements for competition on a French Intercity line.......................35 5.1. External Political factor – lobbying strategy.............................................................. 35 5.2. Stakeholders’ involvement and management............................................................. 35 5.3. Choice of the line ....................................................................................................... 35 i Charles Pinard – MSc Thesis Project TU Delft 5.3.1. Nantes-Bordeaux, the most likely line to be opened first ................................... 36 6. Methodology for analysis of a French Intercity line and design approach 38 6.1. Institutions analysis of a French Intercity line ........................................................... 38 6.2. Technical analysis of a French Intercity line ............................................................. 39 6.3. Design approach for services on a French Intercity line............................................ 40 7. Institutional and technical analysis of the Nantes-Bordeaux line..........42 7.1. Institutional analysis of the Intercity Nantes-Bordeaux and its environment ............ 42 7.1.1. Institutional environment of Nantes-Bordeaux................................................... 42 7.1.2. Conclusion on the institutions analysis ............................................................... 44 7.2. Technical analysis of the Nantes-Bordeaux line........................................................ 45 7.2.1. Current infrastructure and service....................................................................... 45 7.2.2. Rolling stock ....................................................................................................... 48 7.2.3. Modal competition .............................................................................................. 48 7.2.4. Assumed demand and ridership .......................................................................... 49 7.2.5. Conclusion and technical recommendations....................................................... 49 7.3. Conclusion of the analysis – sum of the criteria ........................................................ 50 8. Systematic building of institutional and technical scenarios...................51 8.1. Institutional scenarios – introduction of competition in France................................. 51 8.1.1. Scenario I1: Full separation of RFF and SNCF .................................................. 51 8.1.2. Scenario I2: Holding grouping all railways activities......................................... 52 8.1.3. Scenario I3: Full integration under SNCF umbrella ........................................... 52 8.2. Technical scenarios – Timetables and Rosters........................................................... 53 8.2.1. Scenario T1 – Through trains – Serving the metropolis ..................................... 55 8.2.2. Scenario T1bis – Reversed through services....................................................... 56 8.2.3. Scenario T2 – Maximize central segment services ............................................. 58 9. Evaluation of the scenarios.........................................................................60 9.1. Qualitative evaluation of the institutional scenarios .................................................. 60 9.1.1. Scenario I1: Full separation of RFF and SNCF .................................................. 60 9.1.2. Scenario I2: Holding grouping all railways activities......................................... 60 9.1.3. Scenario I3: Full integration under SNCF umbrella ........................................... 60 9.2. Meeting the requirements........................................................................................... 60 9.2.1. External institutional requirements ..................................................................... 61 9.2.2. Stakeholders’ involvement and management...................................................... 61 9.2.3. Choice of the line ................................................................................................ 61 9.3. Qualitative evaluation of the technical scenarios....................................................... 62 9.3.1. Scenario T1 – Through trains.............................................................................. 62 9.3.2. Scenario T1bis - Reversed antennas...................................................................