Montpellier, a city on the move where moving efficiently is essential. However, for residents living outside the metropolis, the question of the cost of public transport arises. What will be the financial consequences of these movements for citizens far from the urban center? Let’s find out together the amount of the price increase and its potential repercussions on their budget.
The Metropolis of Montpellier recently received the “Metropolitan Regional Express Service” (Serm) label, aiming to transform and improve the rail network around the central city. While this initiative promises considerable benefits for urban mobility, it is unfortunately accompanied by a significant increase in prices for non-metropolitan residents. What does this measure mean in concrete terms for those who live outside the metropolis but depend on its transport services?
The announcement of the Serm label
The president of the Montpellier Métropole, Michaël Delafosse, received a call from the Minister of Transport, Patrice Vergriete, announcing the official labeling of the Métropole under the Metropolitan regional express service (Serm). This program, formerly known as the “metropolitan RER”, aims to boost connections between the central city and its peripheral areas.
The objective of Serm
The Serm aims to strengthen the rail offer and supplement it with other modes of transport if necessary. This approach makes it possible to think about the transport offer on the scale of the large living area, integrating the needs of eight neighboring intercommunities. Improving public transport is therefore at the heart of this ambitious project. But at what cost ?
The increase in prices for non-metropolitan residents
Alenka Doulain, president of the Mupes group, expressed her dissatisfaction with the notable increase in public transport fares for non-metropolitans. The numbers speak for themselves:
- An increase of 27% for the 1h30 ticket
- An augmentation of 50% for the book of 10 tickets
This observation fuels the territorial divide, because free transport is reserved for residents of the heart of the metropolis, leaving those in neighboring territories to pay increasingly higher fares.
The response from the vice-president for transport
Julie Frêche, vice-president of transport, responded to these criticisms by specifying that the increase in costs is partly due to a 38% increase in energy costs, even reaching 50% since 2022. She added that all major metropolises have changed their price scale accordingly. In addition, a large part of the cost of the ticket is still financed by the Métropole, which makes Montpellier one of the cheapest metropolises in France for non-metropolitans and tourists.
What consequences for users outside mainland France?
The question remains open: will this increase in prices dissuade workers and travelers from going to Montpellier? Although the metropolis offers one of the lowest rates for non-metropolitans, the additional financial burden could weigh heavily on some residents of peri-urban areas.
The coming months will be decisive for assessing the impact of this measure on the mobility of non-metropolitan residents. Stay tuned to follow the evolution of this situation and possible responses from local authorities.