After SNCF in December, it is RATP's turn to prepare to sign a new contract with its main client: Ile-de-France Mobilités (IDFM), the regulatory authority for transport in Ile-de-France. .
While competition is looming in public transport, this agreement covering the period 2021-2024 brings several new features for the 4 million users who travel by metro, tram and or bus in the Paris region.
It sets out a number of objectives to be achieved, otherwise “penalties” and compensation may be demanded by IDFM and travelers.
This text will be put to the vote of the elected directors of IDFM, Wednesday April 14.
For months, the two parties negotiated step by step, because the sums at stake and the consequences of the terms of this contract are colossal, for the taxpayer as for the incumbent operator.
In the end, the document of several hundred pages provides for a total of 21.2 billion euros (€ bn) paid over four years to RATP, of which € 6.4 billion will be devoted to investments to modernize the transport offer. .
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“It's a growth contract, but at the same time, we were very demanding in the negotiations,” says Valérie Pécresse, President (Libres!) Of IDFM.
We are asking RATP to reduce its operating costs by 200 million euros over the entire period.
It is a contract for the benefit of the taxpayer and completely customer-oriented.
All the quality of service objectives have been raised and we have changed certain rules of the game. ”
According to the president of the RATP, Catherine Guillouard, "this contract is essential and unique because it makes the transition before opening up to competition and lays new foundations in this sense".
“The desire of both parties from the start has been to put the traveling customer at heart.
I am glad that we have reached an agreement on this basis.
"
Automatic refunds in the event of frequent delays and prolonged disruptions
First novelty: the RATP will now have to compensate travelers in the event of repeated delays on lines A and B of the RER.
If the punctuality of the trains is less than 80% for three to five months on a branch (and not on the whole of the line), its users will be automatically reimbursed for half a month of Navigo.
In the event that the delays extend over six to nine months, it will be the equivalent of a full month.
And beyond nine months, a month and a half of the Navigo card will be reimbursed.
"With this system, users of the Robinson branch (RER B Sud) could have been compensated in 2019 and 2020", illustrates Valérie Pécresse.
As for the metro, where regularity is generally ensured during rush hour, IDFM asks the RATP to ensure that it is the same during off-peak hours, by creating a new punctuality indicator.
The perception of travelers better taken into account
In order to encourage the operator to respect its commitments, the annual bonus / penalty mechanism is reinforced.
“As for the SNCF, we are multiplying the envelope by four.
We are increasing it to 100 million euros (M €), with the absolute objective of improving service, ”emphasizes Valérie Pécresse.
Of these 100 M € redistributed - or not -, 25 M € will be allocated according to the quality of service perceived by travelers through satisfaction surveys.
This is ten times more than in the previous contract.
Punctuality, cleanliness, information provided in the event of a strike or work ... All these aspects are the subject of precise indicators.
"And we added one that did not exist on the delays in putting back into service of elevators and escalators", adds the president of IDFM.
Clearer financial responsibilities in the event of a strike
And in the event of a strike?
In previous contracts, SNCF and RATP committed to providing a minimum of 30% of trains and 50% of metros running at peak hours during a social movement.
But in the event of non-compliance, nothing was specified on financial penalties and reimbursement of customers.
The end of the conflict against the pension reform, in February 2020, was marked by interminable negotiations to find out who should compensate Navigo subscribers deprived of service for two months ... From now on, "in the event of a strike, reimbursement will be automatic" , assures Valérie Pécresse.
"No need for an arm wrestling like the last time," she wishes.
600 million euros in additional investments
The new contract also emphasizes investments, which go from € 1bn to € 1.6bn per year.
This money will be used to buy new trains for the RER B (MI20), new metro trains for several lines (MP14) and to finance the Nexteo system (RER automation).
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IDFM is also continuing its efforts to achieve the end of diesel buses by 2025, which means buying electric or gas buses, and adapting all the bus centers.