Questioning the Relevance of Regional Bus and Train for Low Traffic Flow through a Sustainable Approach

In the current difficult economic situation, a political debate about the more relevant mode for regional low-traffic services has been opened in France. This paper aims to contribute to this debate by studying the next complex issue: is a train more relevant than a coach for low-traffic routes? It suggests a specific methodological approach based on a sustainable comparative analysis of a regional service supply according to the operating mode (train or coach). It does not pretend to conclude on this relevance topic but underlines the strengths and weaknesses of each mode.