As a pre-contribution to this evening's Zoom debate, I thought you might be interested in this 2018 translated article, which explains how things work in our part of the world. Since its publication, the CFTA has been renamed Transdev Rail. From
Le Parisien:It is a unique railway line in France: the TER link , which links Carhaix (Finistère) to Guingamp and Paimpol (Côtes-d'Armor), is the only one managed by a private company, the CFTA, a subsidiary of the Transdev group, which operates the 89 km on behalf of the SNCF▸ . "I always thought it was an SNCF line," surprised Thomas, 32, in front of the Carhaix station. I admit that I don't really see the difference. "
"This line, coming from the historic Breton network which joined Brittany from 1890, continued to be operated by the CFTA after the nationalization of the SNCF in 1938," explains Loïc Lanne, director of the CFTA. In 1967, our agents were questioned by referendum to find out if they wished to go to the SNCF and benefit from the status of railway worker. They preferred to stay with us.
With the opening up of TER lines to competition , the CFTA will continue to respond to calls for tenders without really worrying about its future on this line, which transported nearly 100,000 passengers last year. Because, among the differences with a “normal” SNCF line, the 55 railway workers of CFTA Brittany are all versatile.
“I really enjoy my new job. We do everything from reception to traffic, including maintenance, security and ticket control, ”explains Fanch, 25, one of the last to be hired. A little further, on the platform of the Carhaix station, Denis, 59, driver, also refueled his machine after having brought down his passengers.
"At the SNCF, I would have retired earlier"
Like the other employees on the line, Denis, who arrived at the CFTA in 1984, can, in addition to driving, take care of cleaning the train or maintaining it. In two or three years, he will retire. "Of course, if I had been a railway worker at SNCF, I would have left much earlier, but hey, I knew that when I was hired, and that doesn't bother me. On the contrary, I prefer the versatility that this type of position brings me ”.
For its part, the Brittany region, which has just allocated € 28 million for the refurbishment of this axis, firmly supports the line which the Spinetta report recommends on the contrary to close. A proposal that obviously does not taste Gérard Lahellec, vice-president of the region responsible for transport. "We will oppose its closure. We consider that there can be no question for the State of shedding its responsibilities over the future of these lines which have not been maintained for years. "
In terms of ticket offices, Transdev Rail manage station outlets that open at least 5 days a week at Carhaix (population 7305), Callac (population 2211), and Paimpol (population 7199). All regular (ie except the summer steam services) passenger trains on the Carhaix and Paimpol lines are Driver Only Operation.
No sign of Volunteer Customer Angels yet though - Now where did I leave those nativity wings?...
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