Marseille–Toulon–Nice, six months of operations: a historic first!

I. A Historic and Pioneering Project [00:07] A break from the monopoly: For the first time since 1937, a French region (Région Sud – PACA) has decided to entrust the operation of a passenger rail line to an operator other than SNCF. A leap into the unknown: The Transdev teams emphasize that they started from a blank slate, with everything needing to be created and designed from scratch. The legislative context: The story truly begins in 2018 with the “New Railway Pact” law, which enabled the opening of the rail market. II. Preparation Challenges (3.5 years of work) [02:36] The project required intense preparation involving major industrial partners: Rolling stock: 16 new trainsets were ordered from Alstom. Maintenance: The construction of a dedicated maintenance center in Nice was entrusted to NGE. This site is essential to ensure the safety and daily servicing of the trains. Delivery crisis: The project was nearly jeopardized by significant delivery delays (due to Covid and the components crisis). Transdev initially received only half of the planned trainsets (8 instead of 16), forcing the team to find emergency solutions such as renting locomotives for training. III. Reinventing the Passenger Experience [03:30] Transdev and the Région Sud wanted to create a clear break from the previous service: Modernity and comfort: Brand-new rolling stock, spacious areas, bright interiors, efficient air conditioning, and dedicated bike spaces. Service quality: The target is to reach 97% punctuality. Doubled frequency: A train every 15 minutes in metropolitan areas and hourly service between Marseille and Nice, with no additional cost to the regional authority. Customer relations: The role of “ticket inspector” evolves into “Customer Relations Agent,” a true onboard ambassador for the service. IV. Recruitment and Training [08:45] Driver training: The documentary presents trainees — sometimes coming from career changes (e.g., a former salesperson) — who completed 9 months of intensive training on signaling, technical operations, and anomaly management. Transfer of expertise: Transdev drew on its international rail experience, particularly in Germany (25 years of experience), as well as in Sweden and New Zealand. V. Launch Day (June 29, 2025) [15:11] The first train: The very first commercial train departed at 05:57 from Marseille–Saint-Charles heading to Nice. Team emotion: Leaders and frontline staff were on board to welcome the first passengers and hand out symbolic gifts (sunglasses). First customer feedback: Passengers highlighted the cleanliness, modernity, and spaciousness of the new trainsets compared to the previous service. VI. Conclusion and Future Outlook [21:59] Credibility in the market: This success demonstrates that Transdev is a credible player alongside historical operators. What’s next: After Marseille–Nice, Transdev has already won the tender for the Nice–Cannes–Grasse line, confirming the momentum of France’s rail market opening. The daily challenge: Teams conclude that the hardest part begins now — delivering consistent quality every day over the long term.