The heads of SNCF and SBB have signed a letter of intent which will ‘set the foundation’ for the operation of new cross-border services between France and Switzerland in 2017.
A joint venture will be established in Geneva by the end of 2014, bringing together the French and Swiss teams leading on the RER France-Vaud-Geneva (RER FVG) to oversee planning and implementation of the new cross border service.
Andreas Meyer, chief executive of SBB, and Guillaume Pepy, chairman of SNCF, signed the agreement in Paris on October 30.
The new services, which are set to begin in 2017, will serve a 230-kilometre cross-border network that covers 45 stations, encompassing Geneva, Coppet, Nyon, Evian, Bellegarde, Annecy and St Gervais.
The network will include the new 16 kilometre CEVA line which is currently under construction between Geneva and Annemasse.
Meyer said: “Until now, we focussed with all of our partners on issues of funding and infrastructure, including the construction of the new line CEVA. We must now focus the project RER France-Vaud-Geneva on our customers and the service we offer them.”
