How much would the project cost? What is the difference between the figures of €1.71 billion and €2.5 billion communicated?

The amounts of €1.71 billion and €2.5 billion correspond to two different ways of expressing the cost of the project:

• €1.71 billion excluding taxes, excluding rolling stock, corresponds to the cost expressed at the economic conditions of January 2026 (constant euros). This is an update of the order of magnitude established in 2022, and not a new detailed estimate of the project, which currently presents several variants and is in the preliminary consultation phase to discuss its appropriateness.
• The figure of €2.5 billion excluding tax corresponds to the same cost, taking into account a forecast change in prices up to the years in which the expenditure would actually be incurred (current euros) until 2040, the time frame envisaged at this stage for commissioning if the project were to be carried out, subject to the progress of several stages. This amount therefore makes it possible to anticipate inflation over the duration of the project.

The difference between 1.71 and 2.5 billion does not therefore reflect an increase in the scope or estimated cost of the project: the two figures are simply not expressed under the same economic conditions.

• The cost of the rolling stock is currently estimated at €130 million excluding taxes.
• At this stage, the cost of the project is not definitive. If the project continues, it would be entirely re-estimated after the consultation, depending on the solution chosen and the progress of the studies.

> Consult the cost of the project in the consultation file: chapter 5, p.100.