Here we go, the Léman Express is finally on tracks! Officially inaugurated on the 12th of December last, this railroad network which moves between Geneva, Vaud, Ain and the region of Haute-Savoie, is operating since the 15th of December. It is the biggest regional express network across Europe. Its launch was made with great fanfare, with an event that took place over two days.
The new network in some words and numbers
The stakeholders of the project – the Office Fédéral des Transports, the respective cantons of Geneva and Vaud, the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the Swiss Chemins de Fer Fédéraux, the French Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer and Lémanis (which has replaced the company Transferis) – have signed an agreement in 2008.
The company Lémanis provides administrative support for the coordination between passengers and the transport service. The journey of the Léman Express is 230 kilometres long. It connects several towns through no less than 45 stations. Its operating hours are 5 in the morning to half past midnight during weekdays and 24h/24h during weekends.
240 trains form part of the network. Some 4,400 passengers are expected per hour or 50,000 per day. While Switzerland has invested 1.6 billion euros in the project of the Léman Express, France has injected 250 million.
Good news for the cross-border workers (and others too)
The regions of Ain and Haute-Savoie are home to many cross-border workers – those who live in France while working for a Swiss company. About 90,000 vehicles are said to move between Annemasse and Geneva daily, which causes a considerable traffic jam during peak hours.
From the stations of Evian-les-Bains, Thonon les Bains and Perrignier, amongst others, as well as the possibility of catching a train every 10 minutes, will allow a large number of cross-border workers to go to work without the stress of being caught in the traffic jam.
However, they are not the only ones who will benefit a lot from the Léman Express. This proximity between France and Switzerland will allow many to spend the weekend in other towns, or to pursue tertiary studies in one or the other side of the border without having to move into the locality.
«Le Léman Express en fête!»
In order to give a grand launch to the Léman Express, the company decided to hold an even called “Le Léman Express en fête!” on the Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th of December last.
A “Léman Village” was set up at the station of Geneva-Cornavin, in order to show passengers how this new service will change their daily lives. Games and entertainment were scheduled. The event was closed beautifully, with a concert by the Orchestre Spontané group on the 15th of December.
The Léman Express has found its way to the hearts of the youth by organising a “Léman Express Challenge”, which will last until the 31st of January of next year. Gifts such as trips in different classes, meals or mugs, as well as many others, can be won through the mobile application launched by the network. The game’s principle is taking up challenges during train trips (from any of the 45 stations).
The Léman Express seems to have come to relieve especially the cross-border workers of the Haute-Savoie region. They will no longer suffer from the stress of traffic jams. Moreover, not only will this means of transport save time, but it will also contribute to protecting the environment, since not travelling by car will mean less emission of CO2.