Approached at the end of September, the elected representatives of the Normandy Region have confirmed their choice of RATP Dev as the operator of the Caen Star rail services from July 2027. The RATP group subsidiary will take over from the SNCF on these lines from Caen to Coutances, Saint-Lô, Evreux, Cherbourg, Rouen, Lisieux, Granville, Rennes, Deauville-Trouville and Dives-Cabourg. This announcement led to union action on 15 December, with disruptions on the SNCF network in Caen and the region.
To ensure the best possible continuity of service for passengers, RATP Dev assures that the transition period, which will begin in January 2026, will be subject to " committed and meticulous work by its teams ". In a press release, the group asserts that it has the necessary experience, explaining that " Since 2011, RATP dev has ensured the transition of more than 40 networks and 8,000 employees, including major networks in France and abroad. With 7 railway lines in operation or under construction, we will be putting all our know-how to work to modernise and improve the performance of the Normandy network. ".
The 50% increase in the number of trains made the difference
RATP Dev's bid to win the contract in Normandy against the proposal from SNCF, the incumbent operator, was based on both financial and technical arguments. In order to improve the quality of service, a major training programme is planned for all staff, in terms of train maintenance, on-board control, train driving, etc. The second component concerns the number of trains on offer, which should increase by 50% between now and July 2027. This increase should not affect the excellent punctuality rate, which is close to 93% on this network. The high-capacity railcars (AGCs), which have reached the mid-point of their service life, will be gradually renovated to offer passengers even greater comfort.
A fine calling card for RATP Dev
The Etoile de Caen represents almost 20% of the Normandy rail network. This ten-year contract is intended to be a showcase for RATP Dev, which hopes to win the operation of other regional networks as part of the opening up of the region to competition. "This structuring project is fully in line with our ambition to offer high-performance, sustainable mobility services for the regions and their residents. "said Hiba Farès, Chairman of RATP Dev. With an eye on the rest of the process of opening up to competition in Normandy.
Etoile de Rouen next on the list
The Region has not finished with its calls for tender, as the next one will concern the Rouen Star, an important part of the network with lines such as Yvetot-Elbeuf, Rouen-Dieppe, Paris-Dieppe, Rouen-Amiens, Rouen-Le Havre and Fécamp-Le Havre. The winner is due to be chosen in December 2027, with operations due to start in December 2029 for a period of ten years. The Etoile Mancelle, the Paris-Granville line and the Normandie-Saint-Lazare services will then be opened up to competition between 2030 and 2034.
