French industry achieves single multi-modal focus to promote sector

Transport operators from all modes work together in France through the Union des Transports Publics to promote the role of public transport and influence policies. They have a powerful voice says Peter Stonham

UTP Director General Bruno Gazeau (left) and President Michel Bleitrach (right)

UTP Director General Bruno Gazeau (left) and President Michel Bleitrach (right)

The French passenger transport sector has achieved a strong and focused representative framework that brings the operating industry across all the modes together in a single body, which itself works closely with the parallel organisation for local transport authorities and their political leadership.

The Union des Transports Publics et Ferroviaires now includes both urban bus and tram systems, and since 2006 the rail sector too, with ten rail undertakings including SNCF and Eurostar.

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