TER trains and competition
France’s regional governments—acting as transport authorities for TER trains—are gradually opening their regional rail lines up to competitive tendering. SNCF Voyageurs bids for these contracts and sets up dedicated companies to operate each service it wins.
Liberalizing rail markets in line packages
France’s Railway Reform Act of 27 June 2018 contains a timeline for opening TER regional rail line operation to competition:
- Since 3 December 2019, French regions have been authorized to issue competitive tenders for new operating contracts.
- Between March 2022 and December 2023, each of France’s 11 regions signed a final negotiated contract with incumbent operator SNCF Voyageurs, valid for up to 10 years. These contracts generally specify when and how regional lines will progressively be opened up to competition and specify which line bundles are included.
- All of these contracts will expire no later than the end of 2033, after which every TER line must be operated by a provider selected through a competitive bidding process as part of a broader effort to outsource public services.
What’s ahead in 2026?
Winners of new TER operating contracts for these services will be announced
in 2026:
- Poitou-Charentes in May
- Paris-bound service from Hauts-de-France in June
- Bruche-Piémont-Vosges service in Grand Est in the 3rd quarter
Dedicated TER operation companies
SNCF Voyageurs has opted to create a dedicated subsidiary for each line package it wins through competitive tendering. The first regional subsidiaries are already operating in France’s Sud, Hauts-de-France and Pays de la Loire regions. Two more companies are currently being set up for Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and the Sud region.
SNCF Voyageurs Sud Azur
In 2021, the Sud region awarded SNCF Voyageurs the contract to operate its Azur lines, which radiate out from the hub of Nice. In December 2024, SNCF Voyageurs Sud Azur began its 10-year contract to run several key routes, including Les Arcs-Draguignan-Cannes-Nice-Menton, Vintimille-Grasse-Cannes-Nice-Menton, and Vintimille-Nice-Breil-Tende.
SNCF Voyageurs Loire Océan
Since December 2024, SNCF Voyageurs Loire Océean, with 126 employees, has been operating two TER ALÉOP lines—Nantes-Châteaubriant and Nantes-Clisson—running 100 trains a day during the week and 60 a day at the weekend. Starting in December 2026, this company will also operate four additional rail lines south of the Loire River.
SNCF Voyageurs Étoile d’Amiens
Since December 2024, SNCF Voyageurs Étoile d’Amiens has operated 10 lines, running 200 trains a day. It employs 490 staff daily at 27 ticket offices and4 sites—Amiens, Abbeville, Beauvais and Laon. The contract runs through 2033 and includes the construction of a maintenance centre which is scheduled to be fully up and running by 2027.
SNCF Voyageurs Bourgogne Ouest
On 16 May 2025, the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region awarded SNCF Voyageurs a contract to operate its Mobigo rail service in the Bourgogne Ouest-Nivernais area. The new subsidiary, SNCF Voyageurs Bourgogne Ouest, will operate these lines for at least 7 years starting in December 2026.
SNCF Voyageurs Sud Alpes Méditerranée
On 17 October 2025, the Sud region again selected SNCF Voyageurs, awarding it a contract to operate 5 lines departing from Marseille. These routes serve the Alps and will play a strategic role during the 2030 Winter Olympics. SNCF Voyageurs Sud Alpes Méditerranée will operate the lines for a 10-year period starting in December 2029.
SNCF Voyageurs contract terms by region
- Pays de la Loire: 2022-2031 contract signed on 25 March 2022
- Centre-Val de Loire: 2022-2031 contract signed on 8 July 2022
- Occitanie: 2023-2032 contract signed on 31 March 2023
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine: 2024-2030 contract signed on 17 June 2023
- Bourgogne-Franche-Comté: 2023-2032 contract signed on 5 December 2023
- Brittany: 2024-2033 contract signed on 7 December 2023
- Hauts-de-France: amendment covering 2024-2028 signed on 10 December 2023
- Normandy: 2024-2033 contract signed on 15 December 2023
- PACA Sud: 2024-2033 contract signed on 15 December 2023
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: 2024-2033 contract signed on 22 December 2023
- Grand Est: 2024-2033 contract signed on 22 December 2023
Timeline for opening TER service to competition
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