Transport operator RATP Dev has officially signed a contract to operate the Étoile de Caen, a network of ten railway lines surrounding the Caen metropolitan area in France.
Commencing July 11, 2027, and for a duration of 10.5 years, RATP Dev will manage nearly 20 per cent of the regional NOMAD Train TER traffic.
A pre-operation phase begins this month to “secure the social, industrial, and commercial transition”, RATP Dev said in a statement.
Hervé Morin, President of the Normandy Region, said today’s announcement marks a major milestone for everyday mobility in Normandy.
“Rail transport is a subject we have been fighting for every day for the past ten years,” said Morin. “We started from a difficult position and have made remarkable progress in improving the entire network.
“Our best indicator is the satisfaction rate of Nomad Train users, which rose again to reach 93.3 per cent in 2025.
“The significant improvement in travel conditions in Normandy, as well as the rise in ridership (+23 per cent between 2019 and 2025), are the result of massive investment by the Normandy Region, which has committed over 3 billion euros to this effort.”
Hiba Farès, RATP Dev Chairwoman, said RATP Dev’s mission in Normandy is to transform the everyday rail experience by drawing on the full expertise RATP Dev has developed across major public transport networks, as well as RATP Group’s longstanding know-how in regional rail operations.
“More trains, greater reliability, more staff presence on the ground – from 2027, passengers will see a real, tangible difference,” she said.
“I also want to stress that rail service is nothing without the women and men who operate it day in, day out. They are the public service. That is why we initiated a very open social dialogue as early as the tendering phase, laying the foundations for what will become the social pact of the subsidiary dedicated to the Caen network.
“Our aim is to make this project a showcase for our ability to turn regional public policy goals into technical realities.”
RATP Dev said it will deliver more frequent, clearer, and more responsive services in Caen, in close cooperation with the Normandy Region.
Transport supply will increase by around 50 per cent between 2024 and 2028, with “major improvements on essential daily routes”.
Some lines will see significant increases in service frequency. For example, the Caen–Cherbourg line will go from four to eight trains per day, and Caen–Évreux will increase from one to eight.
RATP Dev already has a strong presence in the Caen region through its operation of the multimodal Twisto network in Caen la Mer, which includes three tramway lines, 72 bus lines, services for passengers with reduced mobility, demand-responsive transport, bike-sharing, car-sharing, bike parks, and park-and-ride facilities.
