On 30 March 2012, the Department of Transport approved the route of 417 km of new high
speed lines provided between Bordeaux and Toulouse and from Bordeaux and Spain. These new
grooves endanger thousands of hectares of natural habitats and farmland. ---- According to
the R?seau Ferr? de France (RFF), the proposed high-speed line (HSL) Bordeaux-Toulouse has
a dual purpose: to ensure the high-speed service between Paris and Toulouse in about three
hours and thirty words allow to connect the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, from Bordeaux
to Nice. ---- The section meets Bordeaux Spain meanwhile at the request of the European
Union to achieve a high-speed rail line between Spain and northern Africa. If the Regional
Councils of Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrenees alliances led by PS / EELV, are strong advocates
of Major Rail Projects Southwest (GPSO), a network of associations opposed.
The SEPANSO, regional federation of associations for the protection of the nature of
Aquitaine, denounces the environmental damage: "The opening of these new bleeding outside
the existing transit corridors would result in the sterilization of thousands of hectares
of natural environment, forest and agricultural land, coupled with sustainable land
fragmentation through [...]. 155 sites with high ecological issues, including 12 Natura
2000 sites may be affected "[1].
Sterilization of natural
SEPANSO also challenges the transport management "Aquitaine, especially the Bordeaux
region, one is overwhelmed by heavy traffic on North-South transit, growing, with many
nuisance and that seems more bearable. Priority for Aquitaine, is the control of the
traffic of goods, including a modal shift from road to rail. However, the draft LGV
Bordeaux-Toulouse, mainly for passenger traffic, does not respond to the problem Aquitains
uncontrolled development of this heavy traffic. Worse, it would divert significant
financial and natural resources. "
As the Union of Aquitaine regional CGT, it denies the financing of the project: "The three
branches LGV are called to be funded through a" Public-Private Partnership, "(PPP) where
the majority of funding and risk would be public while the margins generated by the
operation of the facility would be deprived of [...].
Uncertainties concerning the new financial and institutional disengagement unprecedented
state and the European Community on this project and the logic of deregulation that
underlies the choice of PPP and concession, the CGT group think not appropriate for the
Region Aquitaine subscribe to LGV project "[2].
Alternatives exist
But it is funding this project could fail. A study on the initiative of ALTernative LGV
coordination elected Lot-et-Garonne, compared to the Bordeaux-Toulouse branch GPSO
renovation project of the current line and the new proposed RFF LGV. Several elements are
largely in favor of the renovation. Firstly, 175 hectares of agricultural land frozen in
Lot-et-Garonne against 2700 hectares for the new line. Then three times less energy than a
TGV at 220 km / h on a road with a refurbished TGV on LGV 360 km / h. Finally, a cost
difference clear: $ 2.7 billion for the renovation project against 10 billion for the new
line. All this for a time difference between Bordeaux and Toulouse evaluated between 17
and 6 minutes. It does not matter, RFF header! Mobilization on the ground is assumed by
associations created for this occasion. Include the Very Large Association Vigilance
Albret, coordinated with other similar associations in the Coordination 47. Collective or
associations of environmental protection (Cade) that embodies the fight against LGV in the
Basque Country. Multiplication of public meetings, important events, including small
towns, demonstrations outside territorial assemblies ...
Mobilizing local shows both the hostility of the inhabitants and residents and the
determination of the opposition, the latter having launched multiple legal remedies
against the backrest. While all local authorities are expected to contribute to funding,
some of them - the General Councils of the Gers and Lot-et-Garonne, "worked the body" -
refuse to pay now.
Several associations mobilized
Libertarian Alternative to the question is that of the development model. The real issues
are obvious GPSO project: develop a railway network between major European cities, at the
expense of land designed based on the needs of local populations. No matter that most
people transport takes place in everyday life, on relatively short distances, under
conditions that continue to deteriorate.
Single account which means capitalist development of international transport. All
potential funding is mobilized for these huge infrastructures, offering immense
opportunities to move profits to Bouygues and consort ...
Many local officials, sensitive to the revolt of their citizens, taking a stand against
the LGV. But the political right equipment, such as PS are unanimous in defending the
interests of multinationals. As for EELV, stuck in the defense of his party interests, it
swings to the wind every speech on nuclear Notre-Dame-des-Landes, on the new LGV morocco
... for some ministries.
Development model irrational
In 1880, Paul Lafargue launched its slogan "work two hours a day." Hundred and thirty
years later, with the explosion of productivity, we are able to capitalists impose heavy
work days for some and exclusion for others ... making us perform tasks without social
interest! It is totally irrational to try to gain an hour to get from Toulouse to Paris
when it translates into work without social utility by a destruction of the environment
and when the real justification for the project is the pursuit of profit. It is time to
change course, to guide the development towards meeting the real needs of the population.
GPSO on the draft, the next important step will be the launch of the public inquiry end of
the first half of 2013. Mobilization on the ground, organized by the network of
associations, is the key element to derail this project.
Jacques Dubart (AL Agen)
[1] www.sepanso.org
[2] www.cgt-aquitaine.com
Bron : a-infos-en@ainfos.ca