French Government May Delay Night Train Purchase Due to Budget Shortfall

Facing a significant budget shortfall, the French government is considering postponing its planned purchase of new night trains initially scheduled for January. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot revealed in a December 23 RTL interview that the failure to pass the state budget in Parliament has made it impossible to place the billion-euro order for modern night trains on time.

Tabarot emphasized the urgent need to modernize France's aging fleet of night trains, which have recently regained popularity after years of neglect by SNCF. However, without the approved budget, the government risks delaying this crucial investment. To manage the immediate budgetary gap, a special law will be adopted to buy additional time, but it will not enable actual investment spending.

The minister warned that the shortfall could reach 6.5 billion euros at the start of the new year, forcing delays not only in rail but also road investments. He called on parliamentarians to reach a budget agreement promptly, stressing, "a country that does not invest is a country that dies." The financial uncertainty threatens to stall key transport infrastructure projects during a moment when modernization is critical for sustainable mobility in France.