The Paris region denied on Monday that there were abuses in fare increases for public transport in the next Olympic and Paralympic Games, which in some cases reaches close to 100%, as in individual tickets for a trip.
“I know this has been a controversial topic. We made this increase exactly so that there are no people queuing up at the ticket offices., saturates the entries. Therefore, the individual price is hindering,” said Valérie Pécresse, president of the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris, at a press conference.
“If outsiders are rational and knowledgeable, they don’t need to buy an individual route.“he added, referring to special transportation plans for the Olympic Games and Paralympics period, which runs from July 26 to September 8.
For foreign visitors, who will represent around 38% of the total, daily passes will be offered from 16 euros (including all types of transport and all areas), up to 70 euros for one week. This final rate is more than double the current 30 euros.
“70 euros for a week is quite cheap. I remember that it includes access to the airports (Orly and Roissy, now with rates higher than 11 euros per trip), so let’s say that this pass is amortized from the moment it is purchased and in once you arrive at an airport,” said Pécresse ..
The president of the region assumed the price increase “in order not to leave an Olympic debt to future generations” and not to raise transport rates again in 2025 (it will be 8 euros that year, according to his calculations) and indicated that he had withdrawn the offer of free transport to persons recognized at the Games, as proposed by the Organizing Committee.
“I am telling the Committee to optimize their income and for sponsors to roll up their sleeves. I think there is enough margin of income” to have free transportation for the accredited, that regional leader.
free shuttle
Pécresse announced the launch of 10 free shuttles from the main train stations in Paris to the most distant competition venues, such as Versailles (equestrian events, pentathlon), Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (track cycling), and to others closer, such as Roland Garros (tennis, boxing) or the Parc des Princes (football).
Also, he emphasized that disabled people can count on a bus at a price of 4 euros which will take them from one of the eight reference railway stations to the place where they wish to attend as spectators.
The president of the Paris region added that an application will be made available to all visitors (about 15 million for the Olympic and Paralympic Games) to predict the peak influx and announced that the western area of Paris will be the most affected, especially the metro line 9.
“There will be peaks where it is more advisable to walk part of the way (…) “You don’t have to be afraid to walk, it’s something good for your health, also in the middle of August,” said Pécresse, insisting that transportation will be up to the Olympic challenge.
“The metro and the commuter train will have 15% more frequency than the usual summer offer,” he added, although he assumed that 9 of the capital’s 16 metro lines were more saturated than usual.
Source: La Verdad
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