The automobile has become, over the years, the central element of our transport systems worldwide. Because of its negative impacts on the environment, health and on cities, it is now necessary to move towards another transport paradigm. This is however not so easy and will require a complex set of interventions, among which, the provision of efficient public transport. This dissertation seeks to understand the effect of renewed public transport provision on car use and dependence, as well as to understand whether the COVID-19 crisis has influenced this. To this end, the case study of the new Leman Express rail system in the Greater Geneva area (Switzerland/France) was analysed. An online survey was distributed to both train and non- train users resulting in interesting quantitative and qualitative data. Findings indicate that this new rail system is currently seen as a limited alternative to car use. It is nevertheless a step in the right direction. To achieve more significant modal shift, a wider network of interventions aiming to both attract drivers to alternative forms of transport and to restrict the use of cars will be necessary.