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TER (train network)
Encyclopedia
"TER" redirects here. For the Australian tertiary entrance score, see Tertiary Entrance Rank
. For Lajes Field in the Azores (IATA code TER), see Lajes Field
.
Transport express régional (tʁɑ̃pɔʁ ɛksprɛs ʁeʒjɔnal, usually shortened to TER) is the brand name used by the SNCF
, the French national railway company, to denote rail service run by the regional councils of France, specifically their organised transport authorities. The network serves twenty French regions; Île-de-France
and Corsica
have their own specific transport systems. Every day, over 700,000 passengers are carried on 5,700 TER-branded trains.
TER is an integral part of SNCF Proximités, a branch of the SNCF dealing with urban and regional passenger rail, along with Transilien
(Île-de-France), Intercités
, Chemins de fer de Corse (CFC), Keolis
, and Effia.
TER services are heavily subsidised by French taxpayers. On average, 72% of the cost is borne by the State and the regional councils, with the travellers paying only about 28% of the cost. This cost tends to increase over time because the regional councils have steadily expanded the number of services.
The low profitability of the TER system is primarily due to the way that the services are used by the travelling public, with commuter traffic in the morning and evening but significant under-utilisation during the rest of the day. In addition, passenger numbers are not particularly high; the trains have an average ridership of only about 66 travellers per train.
TER trains consist of single or multiple-unit diesel, electric or dual-mode rail cars, as well as some Corail
carriages previously used on intercity routes.
, the Centre
, Nord-Pas-de-Calais (the North), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
, Rhône-Alpes
and the Pays-de-la-Loire (Loire Valley), and, since January 1999, Limousin
.
In 1998, the traffic increased to an average of 4.9% in these seven régions compared with 3.2% in other regions.
A few other regions are in turn signing on conventions intermédiaires in order to prepare for the increasing decentralization of the network: in particular, Haute-Normandie
in September 1997, Midi-Pyrénées
and Burgundy
November 1997, Picardy
in January 1998, and Lorraine
in February 1998.
These figures do not take into account infrastructure expenses.
Tertiary Entrance Rank
The Tertiary Entrance Rank was a tertiary entrance score used in several Australian states and the Northern Territory as a tool for selection to universities in Australia...
. For Lajes Field in the Azores (IATA code TER), see Lajes Field
Lajes Field
Lajes Field or Lajes Air Base , officially designated Air Base No. 4 , is a multi-use air field, home to the Portuguese Air Force Base Aérea Nº4 and Azores Air Zone Command , a United States Air Force detachment , and a regional air passenger terminal located near Lajes...
.
Transport express régional (tʁɑ̃pɔʁ ɛksprɛs ʁeʒjɔnal, usually shortened to TER) is the brand name used by the SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
, the French national railway company, to denote rail service run by the regional councils of France, specifically their organised transport authorities. The network serves twenty French regions; Île-de-France
Île-de-France (région)
Île-de-France is the wealthiest and most populated of the twenty-two administrative regions of France, composed mostly of the Paris metropolitan area....
and Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
have their own specific transport systems. Every day, over 700,000 passengers are carried on 5,700 TER-branded trains.
TER is an integral part of SNCF Proximités, a branch of the SNCF dealing with urban and regional passenger rail, along with Transilien
Transilien
The Transilien is the brand name for suburban railway services of the SNCF-owned railway network operating within the Île-de-France région...
(Île-de-France), Intercités
Intercités
Intercités is a brand name used by France’s national railway company, SNCF, to denote medium-distance passenger rail services in France. SNCF established the Intercités system in January 2006 as an upgrade of the former Corail network...
, Chemins de fer de Corse (CFC), Keolis
Keolis
Keolis is the largest private sector French transport group. It runs passenger railways, tramways, bus networks, funiculars, trolley buses, and airport services. The company, based in Paris, is majority owned by SNCF, the French state rail operator. AXA Private Equity and Caisse de dépôt et...
, and Effia.
Overview
SNCF established the TER system in 1984 to provide a framework for the management of regional passenger services. Since the end of the 1990s, it has been closely coordinated with the regional councils, who sign an agreement with SNCF on the designated routes, the number of connections, the fares and the service levels.TER services are heavily subsidised by French taxpayers. On average, 72% of the cost is borne by the State and the regional councils, with the travellers paying only about 28% of the cost. This cost tends to increase over time because the regional councils have steadily expanded the number of services.
The low profitability of the TER system is primarily due to the way that the services are used by the travelling public, with commuter traffic in the morning and evening but significant under-utilisation during the rest of the day. In addition, passenger numbers are not particularly high; the trains have an average ridership of only about 66 travellers per train.
TER trains consist of single or multiple-unit diesel, electric or dual-mode rail cars, as well as some Corail
Corail (train)
Corail is the name given to a class of passenger rail cars of the SNCF that first entered commercial service in 1975. When introduced, Corail carriages featured air-conditioning, and superior levels of comfort, suspension and sound-proofing than previous InterCity carriages and gave arguably the...
carriages previously used on intercity routes.
Transfer of administration
Seven régions have been experimenting with the transfer of administration of the regional rail network since 1997: AlsaceAlsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, the Centre
Centre (France)
Centre is one of the 27 regions of France, located towards the northwest of the actual centre of the country, around the Loire Valley. Its capital is Orléans, although its largest city is Tours.-Features:...
, Nord-Pas-de-Calais (the North), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur or PACA is one of the 27 regions of France.It is made up of:* the former French province of Provence* the former papal territory of Avignon, known as Comtat Venaissin...
, Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
and the Pays-de-la-Loire (Loire Valley), and, since January 1999, Limousin
Limousin (région)
Limousin is one of the 27 regions of France. It is composed of three départements: Corrèze, Creuse and the Haute-Vienne.Situated largely in the Massif Central, as of January 1st 2008, the Limousin comprised 740,743 inhabitants on nearly 17 000 km2, making it the second least populated region of...
.
In 1998, the traffic increased to an average of 4.9% in these seven régions compared with 3.2% in other regions.
A few other regions are in turn signing on conventions intermédiaires in order to prepare for the increasing decentralization of the network: in particular, Haute-Normandie
Haute-Normandie
Upper Normandy is one of the 27 regions of France. It was created in 1984 from two départements: Seine-Maritime and Eure, when Normandy was divided into Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy. This division continues to provoke controversy, and some continue to call for reuniting the two regions...
in September 1997, Midi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées is the largest region of metropolitan France by area, larger than the Netherlands or Denmark.Midi-Pyrénées has no historical or geographical unity...
and Burgundy
Bourgogne
Burgundy is one of the 27 regions of France.The name comes from the Burgundians, an ancient Germanic people who settled in the area in early Middle-age. The region of Burgundy is both larger than the old Duchy of Burgundy and smaller than the area ruled by the Dukes of Burgundy, from the modern...
November 1997, Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
in January 1998, and Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
in February 1998.
History of the regionalization of passenger trains
- 31 March 1994: The publication of the report Régions, SNCF : vers un renouveau du service public by the HaenelHubert HaenelHubert Haenel is a French politician and a member of the Senate of France. He represents the Haut-Rhin department and is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement Party....
commission. - 4 February 1995: The law of management and development of territory organized the transfer of responsibility of collective transportation in the interest of administrative regions.
- 19 December 1996: Signing of the first convention with the region of Rhône-AlpesRhône-AlpesRhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
.
Budgets affecting the public rail network
Several figures released by the regions:| Region | TER Budget | Portion of the yearly regional budget |
Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alsace | €220 M | 39 % | (2004) | experimental regionalization since 1997 |
| Bretagne | €100 M | 14 % | (2005) | |
| Bourgogne | €100 M | 25 % | (2005) | |
| Champagne Ardennes | €55 M | 12.5 % | (2004) | |
| Franche Comté | €70 M | 20 % | (2005) | |
| Lorraine | €250 M | 45 % | (2005) | |
| Picardie | €130 M | 20 % | (2002) | intermediate agreement since January 1998 |
| Nord-Pas-de-Calais | €260 M | 21 % | (2003) | experimental regionalization since 1997 |
| Rhone-Alpes | €500 M | 30 % | (2005) | experimental regionalization since 1997 |
These figures do not take into account infrastructure expenses.
TER and tourism
The SNCF have designated nine TER services as trains touristiques (tourist trains). They are:- The Chemins de fer de Corse (CorsicaCorsicaCorsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
n trains) - The Train des Merveilles (Train of Wonders)
- The Train des Gorges de l'Allier (Allier Gorges train)
- The Ligne de Saint Gervais – Vallorcine (Mont-Blanc Express)
- The Ligne de Cerdagne/train jaune (Yellow Train)
- The Autorail Espérance (Hope rail car)
- The Chemin de fer du Blanc-Argent
- The Train des Alpes (Alps train)
- The Ligne des Hirondelles (Swallows line)