Volt Tourcoing and Volt Hainaut propose to extend the new MEL tramway to Mouscron
Volt Tourcoing and Volt Hainaut propose to extend the new MEL tramway to Mouscron
Volt Tourcoing and Volt Hainaut propose to extend the new MEL tramway to Mouscron
> Cross-border public transport has been an objective of the Eurometropolis since 2014
> The successes of Strasbourg and Kehl should inspire the MEL
> More than ever, Europe needs to come closer together
Tourcoing, Mouscron, March 17th, 2022
The members of Volt Tourcoing and Volt Hainaut have submitted a first contribution to the preliminary consultation of the MEL on the project to extend the tramway network. The French and Belgian sections of the European movement propose to extend the Tourcoing tramway across the border to the town hall and the Mouscron station. The teams are inspired by the Strasbourg-Kehl tramway link, which already one year after its inauguration in 2017 has been judged a success, carrying more than 5,500 passengers per day and 7,000 at weekends.
Eric Galéra, head of the Hauts-de-France region and a resident of Tourcoing, explains: "Cross-border public transport has been part of the Eurometropolis objectives since 2014 and could mean additional European funding for the project, as two member countries would be involved - a requirement for almost all European projects. Tourcoing is at the heart of the Eurometropolis area between the MEL, Flanders and Wallonia. If we are not Strasbourg and Kehl today, such a tram link could be a first common link to bring us closer together and make Tourcoing and Mouscron an equivalent example of what Europe can mean on the ground. For my part, I can already see myself crossing the border between the stations that we could symbolically call "Eurométropolis" and "Transfrontalière".
Laurent Verschueren, head of Volt Hainaut, adds: "The world does not stop at the border. The inhabitants of Tourcoing and the MEL travel to Belgium and many inhabitants of Hainaut work on the other side of the border and benefit from the cultural offer of the metropolis. Currently, the TEC (Wallonia) and De Lijn (Flanders) connections cannot cross international (or even regional) borders. The lack of reliable interconnections between networks is one of the reasons for their failure to compete with private vehicles. With an extension of the tram to Mouscron, Tourcoing and the metropolis would become much more accessible for workers, students and weekend visitors. Rather than taking the car and adding to the often untenable traffic situation in the MEL, a cross-border tram link will be an asset for the economy and the cultural scene of the Metropolis, while considerably reducing emissions. It is a win-win-win scenario: for the Metropolis and its economy, for the region's inhabitants and for the planet. Volt will help to defend the idea of cross-border public transport interconnections. It is an essential element for the redeployment of our regions and for helping citizens to make international exchanges close by. "
Our contribution on the MEL website
https://participation.lillemetropole.fr/processes/concertationprealablesdit/f/483/proposals/2336
Contact Volt France
Eric Galéra - Responsible Volt Hauts-de-France
eric.galera@volteuropa.org
Contact Volt Belgique
Laurent Verschueren - Responsible Volt Hainaut
laurent.verschueren@volteuropa.org
About Volt
Volt France and Volt Belgium are two branches of the pan-European political movement Volt Europa. Founded in March 2017 and now present in 30 countries across Europe, Volt in 2019 won over half a million votes across the continent in the European elections and its first seat in the European Parliament. Since then, Volt has won seats in local, regional and national elections in Germany, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Italy and Portugal - including members of the Dutch and Bulgarian National Assemblies. Volt wants to tackle pressing issues such as the climate emergency, social inequalities and economic crises through a more democratic and unified Europe.
More information on
https://www.voltfrance.org/
https://www.voltbelgium.org/
Photo depuis le site de la MEL