An old sea serpent resurfaced on February 21 at the Fresquiennes community hall (near Rouen) in front of more than two hundred people.
Initiated in 2009, the New Paris-Normandy Line (LNPN) must connect Paris Saint-Lazare to Le Havre via Mantes (Yvelines) and the new Rouen Saint-Sever station, all with a section towards Caen and Cherbourg.
Objectives according to SNCF Réseau: “significantly improve the rail connection of the Seine valley thanks to new capacities”, namely an increase in speed which would, for example, save 4 minutes on the Mantes-Evreux section, by passing over certain sections at 200 km/h, or even 250 km/h compared to 120 km/h currently on certain parts.
But also improve the quality and frequency of trains.
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With commissioning by 2035 at a cost of 4.3 billion euros (2016 value) of which 50% paid by local authorities, routes must be proposed this year 2024. While the promotional brochure boasts there is regular dialogue with elected officials and technical services in the Normandy and Ile-de-France territories concerned, concerns are emerging.
Among them, the construction of a 1 km structure which would span the Eure river and cause damage to land.
For its part, the
LNPN association yes, but not at any price
which defends the western territory of the Rouen Normandy Metropolis is coming out of a four-year hibernation, because it does not want the future tunnel planned under the Seine for the future line leads anywhere.
“The human price may be high”
The public meeting therefore aimed to inform the population about the section which will link Rouen Saint-Sever to Barentin (Seine-Maritime) via a tunnel which will pass under the city of Rouen and the Seine "to emerge according to the latest maps on the western plateau and will impact the municipalities of La Vaupalière, Pissy-Pôville, Saint-Jean-du-Cardonnay and Roumare.
I would like to say that the human price risks being high for the inhabitants of our territory,” declared Josiane Lelièvre, president of
LNPN yes, but not at any price
!
Because the routes and the exits are not yet fixed.
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Thus, the association absolutely wants “the tunnel to continue as far as the Barentin viaduct.
They can pass fifteen meters under our agricultural land.
We must save our villages and preserve the inhabitants,” insists Nicolas Octau, mayor of Fresquiennes.
A meeting took place on December 20 in Pissy-Pôville between the mayors of the municipalities concerned and the SNCF “to discuss with us the adjustments even if they do not yet have the funding and they are not saying much. thing.
On the other hand, this project will remain for years in our PLU (
Local Urban Planning Plan
) and will block the development of certain villages.
From now on, all building permit applications go to the prefecture and are blocked.
This has been going on for ten years and we still cannot talk about compensation.
What irritates us is not knowing, being in the dark.
We learn more by opening the newspapers or turning on the television.
It’s unfair,” proclaims Nicolas Octau.
A public inquiry in 2025
However, the general secretary of La Vaupalière Isabelle Marlier, former vice-president of the association, declared having received information: “The SNCF is making strong progress.
The studies are completed and it would opt for the tunnel exit at Rousseuil in the town of La Vaupalière.
At the beginning of March, they will present the different variants to the Steering Committee (COPIL) and the technical committee.
Afterwards, they will come back to the mayors and organize public meetings in April for a public consultation until June.
They have three or four routes to offer.
Does this mean that it is done for the tunnel?
On the other hand, only one option will be concerned for the public inquiry which will take place from the end of 2025.”
For the mayor of Roumare, Jean-Paul Couillier, “the price per kilometer of tunnel is estimated at 90 million euros and the normal track at 20 million euros.
To protect our villages, it’s 350 million euros.
What is this for the overall budget?
We will all have to be united so that the LNPN does not come out in the middle of our territory, but at the end.”