RATP President Charts Course for Quality Improvement and International Expansion

PARIS, March 2026 — The incoming President of RATP, Xavier Piechaczyk, has outlined a strategic vision aimed at enhancing the operator's core services in Paris amidst an evolving competitive landscape. His mandate includes addressing long-standing infrastructure and operational challenges within the French capital's extensive public transport network.

Piechaczyk's immediate priorities involve restoring quality across RATP's bus, tram, metro, and rail services, alongside tackling issues such as limited step-free access. Significant attention will also be directed towards resolving chronic delays in rolling stock procurement, exemplified by the delayed MI20 fleet for RER Line B, now expected by 2028-29.

As Paris's urban transport market gradually opens to competition, with seven light rail lines slated for tendering from 2030, RATP is adapting its structure. While front-line staff have been redeployed, the company will retain its crucial role as infrastructure manager for key rail networks, including the upcoming Grand Paris Express.

Looking beyond domestic operations, Piechaczyk expressed openness to a coordinated "Team France" initiative for securing international contracts. This approach, potentially involving government and industry partners, would be selectively applied to specific overseas opportunities, leveraging collective expertise.

This strategic direction reflects a broader industry trend where established public transport operators must balance the demands of domestic market liberalization with the pursuit of international growth, emphasizing operational excellence and strategic partnerships.

Source: Railway Gazette International