Bigger, better multimodal centres... The French rail station renovation programme is stepping up a gear. Take a look at what's happening in Dijon.

This is one of the major issues today in rail transport. In the next 20 years, the number of passengers is set to literally explode, with double the number of passengers expected on the TGV and four times as many on TER services. In the light of these forecasts and the report submitted to the French Prime Minister in March 2009 by Senator Fabienne Keller, the SNCF has decided to fast-track its station renovation programme.

This programme is all the more ambitious because it bring our stations into the era of intermodality. The idea is for the station to become a public transport centre - the essential city hub, a meeting place and a venue for shops and services.

Dijon is the perfect example. On 18 June, Guillaume Pepy, SNCF Chairman, opened a station in the Bourgogne regional capital which had been rebuilt around the concept of intermodality. It has wider pedestrian zones, specific public transport areas, a dedicated bike park, display screens... And - and this is a first in France - a single sales point for three transport companies: TER, and the Divia and Transco city and inter-city transport providers.

The modernisation programme will be launched at a range of sites throughout France with a total estimated investment budget of around €5 billion between now and 2020. Currently 16 stations are being renovated. The SNCF is also planning about 22 station redesign projects, which should be completed or have significantly advanced by 2015.