France might raise its Track Access Charges (TAC) by 24 per cent over the next three years. RailFreight.com reached out to Solène Garcin-Berson, managing director of AFRA, one of the largest rail associations in France, to understand what this means for rail freight.

Although TAC for rail freight in France are partly covered by the state, “no increase in the amount of tolls is acceptable if the infrastructure manager does not significantly improve the quality of service for freight traffic and its performance”, Garcin-Berson said. Simply put, the current fees do not provide good value for money.

To try and fix this issue, the French Transport Regulatory Authority suggested that an increment in TAC should be conditional on achieving minimum thresholds of service quality. “​​As part of the revision of the performance contract, AFRA is currently working to include in it a few performance indicators adapted to freight”, Garcin-Berson added.

A more problematic situation for passenger operators?

If for rail freight the problem is not the amount to be paid, but rather the quality of service. The sector is already exempt from paying TAC surcharges, and the costs of use are somewhat covered by the state, as already mentioned. On the other hand, rail passenger operators are facing TAC increases that might lead to significant rises in ticket prices.

Régions de France, the institutions grouping the French regions, stated that the TAC increases proposed represent “a serious danger in terms of sustainability for the purchasing power of rail users as well as for regional finances”. The regions are saying that they might not be able to financially cover the proposed gradual increase in TAC, estimated at 8 per cent per year over the next three years.

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