LGV Sud Europe Atlantique
Encyclopedia
The LGV Sud Europe Atlantique (LGV SEA), also known as the LGV Sud-Ouest, is a high-speed railway line in the early stages of construction, running between Tours
and Bordeaux
, in France
. When built, it will be used by TGV
trains operated by SNCF
, the French national railway company. The project has been approved. It is an extension of the LGV Atlantique
.
, Aquitaine
and Midi-Pyrénées
with the high-speed rail service of Northern Europe, which connects Paris
to London
, Brussels
, Amsterdam
and beyond. The trip between Paris
and Bordeaux
will take around two hours and ten minutes with a projected speed of 300 km/h. The inter-city links between Tours
, Poitiers
, Angoulême
, and Bordeaux
will also be improved and southwestern France will be better connected to diverse parts of the country and the rest of Europe.
The project is also a response to the heavy traffic on the existing rail line. The speed differences between the high-speed TGV
trains, which reach speeds of up to 220 km/h on the existing tracks, and the slower freight train
s and TER
(regional) trains which share the same track, create highly congested tracks and prevent the most efficient usage of the rails.
Creating dedicated tracks for the TGV allows more freight and TER
trains to use the existing tracks. New regional TER
services will be created, especially to ease services that are currently crowded. The increase in freight trains on the existing track is also expected to ease truck traffic on the roads in the régions, as trains transport more and more merchandise, easing the impact on the environment as well.
The project is also expected to benefit the economy. The construction of Phase 1 alone is expected to create 10,000 construction jobs a year for five years. Jobs in the transport, commerce, and service sectors are expected to be created as well. Local businesses will likely see competitiveness increase as their markets expand, and tourism to the region will likely increase as well.
Phase 1: Angoulême
Phase 2: Tours
Phase 3: Bordeaux
On July 30, 2010, the French government announced that work on the section to the Spanish border is expected to begin before 2020.
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
and Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. When built, it will be used by TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
trains operated by SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
, the French national railway company. The project has been approved. It is an extension of the LGV Atlantique
LGV Atlantique
The LGV Atlantique is a high-speed railway line running from Paris to Western France. It opened in 1989-1990. It divides into two parts at Courtalain, one going westward to Le Mans , the second one going southwestward to Tours .-Route:The line leaves Gare Montparnasse to cross Paris's southern...
.
Purpose
The purpose of constructing the LGV SEA is to bring high-speed rail service to southwestern France and connect the régions of Poitou-CharentesPoitou-Charentes
Poitou-Charentes is an administrative region in central western France comprising four departments: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. The regional capital is Poitiers.-Politics:The regional council is composed of 56 members...
, Aquitaine
Aquitaine
Aquitaine , archaic Guyenne/Guienne , is one of the 27 regions of France, in the south-western part of metropolitan France, along the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees mountain range on the border with Spain. It comprises the 5 departments of Dordogne, :Lot et Garonne, :Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Landes...
and Midi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées is the largest region of metropolitan France by area, larger than the Netherlands or Denmark.Midi-Pyrénées has no historical or geographical unity...
with the high-speed rail service of Northern Europe, which connects Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and beyond. The trip between Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
will take around two hours and ten minutes with a projected speed of 300 km/h. The inter-city links between Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
, Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
, Angoulême
Angoulême
-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
, and Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
will also be improved and southwestern France will be better connected to diverse parts of the country and the rest of Europe.
The project is also a response to the heavy traffic on the existing rail line. The speed differences between the high-speed TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
trains, which reach speeds of up to 220 km/h on the existing tracks, and the slower freight train
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
s and TER
TER (train network)
"TER" redirects here. For the Australian tertiary entrance score, see Tertiary Entrance Rank. For Lajes Field in the Azores , see Lajes Field....
(regional) trains which share the same track, create highly congested tracks and prevent the most efficient usage of the rails.
Creating dedicated tracks for the TGV allows more freight and TER
TER (train network)
"TER" redirects here. For the Australian tertiary entrance score, see Tertiary Entrance Rank. For Lajes Field in the Azores , see Lajes Field....
trains to use the existing tracks. New regional TER
TER (train network)
"TER" redirects here. For the Australian tertiary entrance score, see Tertiary Entrance Rank. For Lajes Field in the Azores , see Lajes Field....
services will be created, especially to ease services that are currently crowded. The increase in freight trains on the existing track is also expected to ease truck traffic on the roads in the régions, as trains transport more and more merchandise, easing the impact on the environment as well.
The project is also expected to benefit the economy. The construction of Phase 1 alone is expected to create 10,000 construction jobs a year for five years. Jobs in the transport, commerce, and service sectors are expected to be created as well. Local businesses will likely see competitiveness increase as their markets expand, and tourism to the region will likely increase as well.
Details
- The new high-speed route will bypass LibourneLibourneLibourne is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.It is the wine-making capital of northern Gironde and lies near Saint-Émilion and Pomerol.-Geography:...
, shortening the total distance traveled compared to the existing route.
- No new train stations will be built between Saint-Pierre-des-CorpsSaint-Pierre-des-CorpsSaint-Pierre-des-Corps is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.Located on the eastern edge of Tours, it is a major nodal point in the French railway network, thanks to the station, which is an en route terminus for the LGV Atlantique, used by High speed trains traveling...
and BordeauxBordeauxBordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
: service to ChâtelleraultChâtelleraultChâtellerault is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in France.It is located to the north of Poitou, and the residents are called Châtelleraudais.-Geography:...
, PoitiersPoitiersPoitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
and AngoulêmeAngoulême-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
will take advantage of existing train stations, with connections allowing access to the high-speed rails.
- South of PoitiersPoitiersPoitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
, a connection will allow trains to access the old tracks towards La RochelleLa RochelleLa Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
.
- The total time gain between ToursToursTours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
and BordeauxBordeauxBordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
will be around 50 minutes. 302 km of high-speed track will be constructed (though the project includes a further 38 km of conventional tracks that connect to the LGV) and the cost of the project is estimated to be €7.2 billion. The state will meet a maximum of half of the cost.
- The new line will increase annual ridership by about five million travellers.
- The concessionaire for the Tours to Bordeaux section is Vinci, which will share half the cost with infrastructure manager RFF, .
- The line is expected to open in 2016, at which time the total time from Paris -Bordeaux will reduce from 3h to 2h.
Phase 1: AngoulêmeAngoulême-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
-BordeauxBordeauxBordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
- 2001-2003: Pre-project studies and procedures
- 3 February 2005 - 16 March 2005: Final public hearings
Phase 2: ToursToursTours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
-AngoulêmeAngoulême-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
- 2004-2006: Pre-project studies and procedures
- 2009: Preliminary works and land acquisition
- 2011: Main construction starts
- When constructed, Phase 2 must be completed on a rapid schedule due to the increase in traffic that will likely be caused by the completion and opening of Phase 1. For this reason the French government announced in February 2009 additional funding to speed up construction.
Phase 3: BordeauxBordeauxBordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
-SpanishSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
frontier
- Proposed, not currently decided.
- 2004-2005: Preliminary studies
- 2006: Public debate
On July 30, 2010, the French government announced that work on the section to the Spanish border is expected to begin before 2020.
History
- 25 September 1990: Service began on the south-west branch of the LGV AtlantiqueLGV AtlantiqueThe LGV Atlantique is a high-speed railway line running from Paris to Western France. It opened in 1989-1990. It divides into two parts at Courtalain, one going westward to Le Mans , the second one going southwestward to Tours .-Route:The line leaves Gare Montparnasse to cross Paris's southern...
to Saint-Pierre-des-CorpsSaint-Pierre-des-CorpsSaint-Pierre-des-Corps is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.Located on the eastern edge of Tours, it is a major nodal point in the French railway network, thanks to the station, which is an en route terminus for the LGV Atlantique, used by High speed trains traveling...
, west of ToursToursTours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
- 1 April 1992: Initial proposals for a high speed link between Saint-Pierre-des-CorpsSaint-Pierre-des-CorpsSaint-Pierre-des-Corps is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France.Located on the eastern edge of Tours, it is a major nodal point in the French railway network, thanks to the station, which is an en route terminus for the LGV Atlantique, used by High speed trains traveling...
and BordeauxBordeauxBordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. Early in its conception, the line was going to be called LGV Aquitaine.
- 1994-1995: Public debate on the LGV Aquitaine project
- 1997-1998: Preliminary studies on the ToursToursTours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
to BordeauxBordeauxBordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
line
- 2011: A 50 year concession to build and operate the line is awarded to the LISEA consortium.
- 1st quarter 2012: Construction expected to begin, lasting 73 months (until aprox. 1st quarter 2017)
External links
- RFF - Ligne Grande Vitesse Sud Europe Atlantique
- Large parts of this article were translated from the article LGV Sud Europe Atlantique on the French language Wikipedia.