Île-de-France unveils ambitious plan for express coach lines

Valérie Pécresse, President of Île-de-France Mobilités and the Île-de-France Region, alongside François Durovray, President of the Essonne Departmental Council, have unveiled the master plan for regional express coach lines. Building on a report from April 2023, the plan aims to enhance the Express component of the Île-de-France Mobilités bus plan. By 2030, the initiative will introduce 45 new express lines, almost doubling the existing number and expanding the infrastructure network.

Described as an “RER on the road,” the plan aims to offer a credible alternative to private vehicles and seeks to revolutionise transportation in rural areas, providing collective and rapid transport for those lacking such options. The comprehensive approach involves Park & Ride facilities, reserved lanes and a broader infrastructure network. The objective is to offer Île-de-France residents an eco-friendly, cost-effective, comfortable and efficient alternative to individual car usage.

Valérie Pécresse emphasised the transformative impact on daily commutes for the 500,000 Île-de-France residents travelling over 50km to work, stating, “[The plan will help] residents of the Ile-de-France region save time, leave the car in the parking lot and go to a major station, their work, the airports… without polluting, without traffic jams and saving time. We are thus moving towards transport chosen rather than suffered.”

To facilitate the plan’s success, around 30 reserved lanes on major congested roads will be developed, accompanied by approximately 40 bus stations catering to various mobility options. Multimodal exchange hubs, integrated with the rail network, will feature amenities for express line passengers.

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The investment, totalling nearly €250 million, will finance the acquisition of 200 additional coaches (€70 million) and the development of multimodal exchange hubs (€150 to €200 million by 2030). The commissioning of the 45 new express lines, with an additional nine existing lines being reinforced in the short-term, is scheduled post the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Express coach lines, to meet certain criteria, must provide optimal service quality. These criteria include performance, comfort, accessibility for people with reduced mobility and clear visibility through dedicated regional numbering.

The plan anticipates a significant increase in daily trips, from around 90,000 on existing lines to an estimated 150,000 with the introduction of the new express coach lines. Overall, the initiative represents a forward-looking strategy to transform regional transportation, reduce reliance on individual cars and enhance the quality of commuter experiences in Île-de-France.