Farmers fight high-speed train

Over one thousand farmers marched into the Var protesting about the new high-speed train developments Copyright Six Four

Planned construction of the high-speed train line, LGV PACA (Ligne à Grand Vitesse Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur) has been the subject of controversy for many months now. In particular, for farmers in the Var who are fighting tooth and nail against the billion-euro train route to be built over large sections of cultivated soil.

Last Tuesday, Var farmers attended a meeting with members of the French railway company RFF (Réseau Ferré de France) in the Var town of Le Luc to discuss the pending plans. Success was achieved after three hours of negotiations, as the groups agreed on a 30th November meeting with French Transport Minister Thierry Mariani.

On the same day, an entourage of hundreds of protesting farmers took to the streets of Le Luc with tractors and members of the FDSEA (Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d'Exploitants Agricoles) to reinforce their anger. They were repeatedly asked to leave, but only did so at 5.30pm when the RFF announced they had achieved a meeting with the government.

Previously, on Sunday 13th November, 2,000 protestors converged on the Var town of Beausset, with some demonstrators announcing that they wouldn't sacrifice “an inch” of land for the LGV PACA development.

The new railway line will link the Côte d’Azur and the Var with the European high-speed networks, aiding connection between the metropolitan cities. It will also offer an alternative to travelling by car in a region that already suffers from overloaded motorways.

After initial assesments, the Var agricultural association declared that a total of 1,700 hectares would be affected by the new track.

For farmers and residents, this means a large-scale destruction of land and community space. Even the massive cost of the project they say, estimated between 20 and 25 billion euros, would be a potential problem. The expansion of the Marseille rail route via Toulon-Cannes-Antibes to Nice will devour funds that protestors claim would be better spent on new bus or tramlines.  

Due to the disputes, a completion date of the rail network has been readjusted to at least 2035.

Meanwhile, farmers and vineyard owners have announced a new “anti-LGV” campaign this month. The protest will take place in Toulon.

Louise Kirby