The French Railway Industry Association Calls for the Government's Commitment to Be Translated into Concrete Action

This is not the time for disengagement! More than a year ago, the Prime Minister, Madame Élisabeth Borne, announced an ambitious investment plan to regenerate, digitalise and develop the French rail system. This announcement had long been awaited in order to continue offering safe, clean mobility accessible to all, thanks to an efficient network. Since that announcement, rail industry manufacturers have mobilised relent lessly to prepare for and anticipate the implementation of this ambitious project, alongside SNCF. Thanks to their expertise and capacity for innovation, manufacturers are ready to meet the technical and economic challenges required to achieve this transformation. The Olympic Games demonstrated the efficiency and robustness of the French transport system. This remarkable performance is no accident: it is the result of the investments made to make this event a success. However, more than a year after this investment plan was announced, uncertainties remain regarding its execution. The French Railway Industry Association warns that the fact that calling this commitment into question, or a prolonged delay in its implementation, would considerably weaken not only an already ageing French rail network, but also the entire rail industrial sector. Such a situation would jeopardise not only the competitiveness of sector companies, but also the industry's confidence in the commitments made by public authorities. Postponing this commitment would also inevitably result in far greater costs within a few years. Nor should this expenditure, which the State has committed to making, be seen as a debt. It is above all an asset that will form part of our heritage for all our fellow citizens for decades to come, for the century ahead and beyond. Above all, the trickle-down effect of this investment in the network will quickly translate into growth, jobs and innovation for the hundreds of companies that make up our sector. Digitalising and securing our network is also an essential step towards modal shift and France's decarbonisation policy. The French Railway Industry Association therefore calls on the government to translate this commitment into concrete action, scheduled and secured over time. The visibility and continuity of investment are essential and necessary factors enabling companies to acquire the material and human resources needed to achieve this objective. This ambitious commitment must now be put into practice without delay, in order to preserve the future of our industrial sector and that of mobility in France. Investing in Rail Means Investing for the Century Ahead: Digitalising and Regenerating the French Rail Network, an Essential Investment that Benefits All French People and Contributes to the Reindustrialisation of our Country PRESS RELEASE 14 October 2024 PRESS RELEASE Marine Latombe Communications Manager Email : mlatombe@fif.asso.fr Téléphone : 01.50.63.83.60 Portable : 06.59.40.33.96 Press Contact: For further information, please visit our website: https://industrie-ferroviaire.fr/ Find us also on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/industries-ferroviaires/ or on X: @IndustrieFerro 60 rue Anatole France - 92300 Levallois-Perret l 01 55 63 83 60 l www.fif.asso.fr About FIF The French Railway Industry Association (FIF) brings together 83 direct members and more than 600 in direct members through the clusters. The rail industry generates annual revenue of more than €4 billion in France and through exports. FIF brings together all French rail manufacturers through the groupings of its various trades: rolling stock manu facturers, rail equipment suppliers, track and signalling industries, the digital tech nologies grouping, and the maintenance, retrofit and modernisation grouping. Recognised by both public authorities and all users, players and decision-makers in the rail system, FIF is representative of rail industry companies in France. Its main missions help establish a framework and favourable conditions for value creation within the French rail industry. FIF therefore works actively to support the development and growth of the rail industry in both the national and international context, highlighting its strategic issues and fostering effective collaboration between the various stakeholders and players across the entire rail industry.