The Normandy Region has named RATP Dev, a subsidiary of the RATP Group, as the preferred operator for the Étoile de Caen rail services from 2027.
A project contract negotiation phase will now begin between the Region and RATP Dev. The formal award will only be confirmed following the vote of regional councillors at the Plenary Assembly on 15 December 2025. If approved, a mobilisation period will run from January 2026 to July 2027.
Commitment to sustainable mobility
Hiba Farès, President of RATP Dev, welcomed the announcement, stating:
“This structuring project is fully in line with our ambition to provide high-performance and sustainable mobility services for territories and their inhabitants. If the vote is confirmed in December, our teams will be proud to demonstrate to the Region our experience, commitment, attentiveness, and understanding of the operational, social, and territorial challenges that this takeover would involve.”
A strategic rail network
The contract covers several key regional routes, including:
- Caen–Coutances
- Caen–Saint-Lô
- Caen–Évreux
- Caen–Cherbourg
- Caen–Rouen
- Caen–Lisieux
- Caen–Granville
- Caen–Rennes
- Lisieux–Trouville-Deauville
- Trouville-Deauville–Dives-Cabourg
This strategic network would reinforce the RATP Group’s position in regional rail operations and further strengthen RATP Dev’s reputation for managing complex transport projects both in France and abroad.
Ensuring a smooth transition
RATP Dev has pledged to ensure a seamless and transparent transition for the Normandy Region, passengers, and staff. The company will draw on its experience in managing complex operational takeovers, having overseen the transition of more than 40 networks and 8,000 employees since 2011.
The operator already manages seven rail lines in service or under construction, and plans to bring this expertise to the modernisation and performance of the Normandy network.
Share on:
