If “exceptional security work in terms of its scale and technical characteristics” allowed the reopening of the road portion of the A43 located between Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Le Freney last October, the rail link between France and Italy still remains closed since the landslide in the Maurienne valley on August 27. A disaster for the SNCF, while the ski resorts have just opened. This is why the railway company decided to set up “a replacement service between France and Italy from January 10 until March 24”.
This is a new offer – “alternative to the plane” – which “once again makes it possible to connect France to Italy”, welcomes the SNCF. On the program therefore: one round trip per day until the line is restored compared to 3 round trips without connection usually. The only downside is that you will first have to take the train from Paris to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, then a bus to Oulx in order to cross the damaged part, before being able to take a TGV again to Turin and Milan.
“We are delighted to reopen connections between Italy and France, a clear testimony to TGV INOUI’s continued commitment to the sustainability of the planet, to our customers and to the importance we attach to the strong link between our two countries,” welcomed the SNCF, announcing the opening of ticket sales this Monday, December 11. In terms of price, this unique ticket will be “accessible from 39 euros”, “available on all the usual sales channels on the SNCF Connect website and application, as well as from approved travel agencies”. Knowing that holders of subscriptions and other cards will preserve all their benefits over the entire course.
“The reestablishment of this rail link is crucial for us,” insists the SNCF, which thus wishes to “ensure (its) customers continuity and quality of service.” “This offer is made possible thanks to the work of the SNCF teams in France and Italy, who through their mobilization succeeded in finding solutions for our customers,” said Jean-François Ancora, General Director of SNCF Voyages. Italy.
As a reminder, 15,000 cubic meters of rocks fell from a cliff overlooking the rail link between France and Italy via the Alps as well as the A43 motorway on August 27, causing the closure of road and rail links between the two countries. Since then, while the motorway was quickly able to reopen, the railway should remain closed until the end of 2024 according to the latest estimates. The authorities must still purge the mountain of 5,000 cubic meters of unstable rock using water drops by helicopter or even dynamiting before securing the cliff and then rehabilitating the network.