The LGV Sud Europe Atlantique (LGV SEA, English : South Europe Atlantic High Speed Rail Line), also known as the LGV Sud-Ouest or LGV L'Océane, is a high-speed railway line between Tours and Bordeaux, in France. It is used by TGV trains operated by SNCF. It is an extension of the LGV Atlantique. The line was inaugurated on 28 February 2017 and with services beginning on 2 July 2017. The line, which was at the time the biggest European railway construction project, was built by the LISEA consortium, which owns and maintains the line until 2061 and charges tolls to train companies.[2] Trains on this line depart Paris from Gare Montparnasse.
The LGV SEA brings high-speed rail service to southwestern France and connects the regions of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie with the high-speed rail service of Northern Europe, which connects Paris to London, Brussels, Amsterdam and beyond. The trip between Paris and Bordeaux takes around two hours and ten minutes at a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). The inter-city links between Tours, Poitiers, Angoulême, and Bordeaux are also improved, and southwestern France is better connected to various parts of the country and to the rest of Europe. Trains on this line depart Paris from Gare Montparnasse
The project is also a response to the heavy traffic on the existing rail line. Train tracks are most efficiently used when all trains circulate at the same speed and have identical stops. The large speed difference between the fast TGV trains, which circulated on the existing tracks at speeds up to 220 km/h (137 mph), and the slower freight trains and TER (regional) trains, which shared the same track, caused the interval between these trains to increase greatly. This congested the tracks and prevented their most efficient usage.
Dedicated tracks for the TGV therefore leave space on the existing tracks for many more freight and TER trains than just the number of removed TGV trains. New regional TER services became possible, and could ease services that are currently crowded. The increase in freight trains on the existing track would ease truck traffic on the roads in the régions, as trains transport more and more goods, easing the impact on the environment as well.
The project was also sold as benefiting the economy. The construction of Phase 1 created 10,000 construction jobs for five years. Jobs in the transport, commerce, and service sectors were created as well. Local businesses may their see competitiveness increase as their markets expand, and tourism to the region may increase as well.
This route supplements – and partly supersedes – the classic Paris–Bordeaux railway line.
Details
The line was built by consortium LISEA consisting of Vinci Concessions - 33.4%, Caisse des dépôts et consignations - 25.4%, Meridiam - 22.0% and Ardian - 19.2%.[3] The consortium will operate and maintain the line until 2061, and charges tolls to train companies.[3] The consortium invested €3.8 billion, French government, local authorities and the European Union paid €3 billion and €1 billion was contributed by SNCF Réseau (subsidiary of SNCF).[3] Another €1.2 billion was spent by SNCF Réseau on the construction of interconnecting lines, control centres, capacity enhancements at Bordeaux and remodelling the track layout at Gare Montparnasse.[2]
The new high-speed route bypasses Libourne, shortening the total distance traveled compared to the existing route. No new stations were built between Saint-Pierre-des-Corps and Bordeaux, and service to Châtellerault, Poitiers and Angoulême uses their existing train stations, which new connections link to the high-speed rails. South of Poitiers, a connection allows trains to access the old tracks towards La Rochelle.
The journey between Tours and Bordeaux is shortened by around 50 minutes. 302 km (188 mi) of high-speed track was built together with a further 38 km (24 mi) of conventional tracks that connect to the LGV.[4] The new line is expected to increase annual ridership by about five million travellers.
Phases
For financial reasons, the project was initially divided into three phases:[citation needed]
In that initial plan, Phase 2 had to be completed on a rapid schedule to cope with the increased in traffic expected after the opening of Phase 1. For this reason the French government announced additional funding in February 2009 to build Phases 1 and 2 together.[5]
On 30 July 2010, the French government announced that work on the section to the Spanish border is expected to begin before 2020.[6] In 2015 however, a public inquiry rejected the construction of this section due to cost.[7]
The Bordeaux - Toulouse high speed line could be opened in 2029.[8]
1 April 1992: Initial proposals for a high-speed link between Saint-Pierre-des-Corps and Bordeaux. 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 Tours to Bordeaux line
2011: A 50-year concession to build and operate the line is awarded to the LISEA consortium.[9]
1st quarter 2012: Construction begins, expected to last 73 months (until 1st quarter 2017)[9]
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The LGV Sud Europe Atlantique LGV SEA English South Europe Atlantic High Speed Rail Line also known as the LGV Sud Ouest or LGV L Oceane is a high speed railway line between Tours and Bordeaux in France It is used by TGV trains operated by SNCF It is an extension of the LGV Atlantique The line was inaugurated on 28 February 2017 and with services beginning on 2 July 2017 The line which was at the time the biggest European railway construction project was built by the LISEA consortium which owns and maintains the line until 2061 and charges tolls to train companies 2 Trains on this line depart Paris from Gare Montparnasse LGV Sud Europe AtlantiqueThe LGV Sud Europe Atlantique near Pliboux Deux Sevres OverviewStatusOperationalOwnerSNCFLocaleNouvelle Aquitaine and Occitanie FranceTerminiTours FranceBordeaux FranceServiceSystemSNCFOperator s SNCFHistoryOpened2 July 2017TechnicalLine length340 km 210 mi 302 km 188 mi newly built 38 km 24 mi connection to existing network Number of tracksDouble trackTrack gauge1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in standard gaugeElectrification25 kV 50 Hz 1 Operating speed320 km h 200 mph SignallingTVM 430 ETCS Level 2 future TGV lines in France with the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique in ochre Contents 1 Purpose 2 Details 2 1 Phases 2 1 1 Phase 1 Angouleme Bordeaux 2 1 2 Phase 2 Tours Angouleme 2 1 3 Phase 3 Bordeaux Toulouse and Spanish border 3 History 4 References 5 External linksPurpose Edit Project map English French The LGV SEA brings high speed rail service to southwestern France and connects the regions of Nouvelle Aquitaine and Occitanie with the high speed rail service of Northern Europe which connects Paris to London Brussels Amsterdam and beyond The trip between Paris and Bordeaux takes around two hours and ten minutes at a top speed of 320 km h 199 mph The inter city links between Tours Poitiers Angouleme and Bordeaux are also improved and southwestern France is better connected to various parts of the country and to the rest of Europe Trains on this line depart Paris from Gare MontparnasseThe project is also a response to the heavy traffic on the existing rail line Train tracks are most efficiently used when all trains circulate at the same speed and have identical stops The large speed difference between the fast TGV trains which circulated on the existing tracks at speeds up to 220 km h 137 mph and the slower freight trains and TER regional trains which shared the same track caused the interval between these trains to increase greatly This congested the tracks and prevented their most efficient usage Dedicated tracks for the TGV therefore leave space on the existing tracks for many more freight and TER trains than just the number of removed TGV trains New regional TER services became possible and could ease services that are currently crowded The increase in freight trains on the existing track would ease truck traffic on the roads in the regions as trains transport more and more goods easing the impact on the environment as well The project was also sold as benefiting the economy The construction of Phase 1 created 10 000 construction jobs for five years Jobs in the transport commerce and service sectors were created as well Local businesses may their see competitiveness increase as their markets expand and tourism to the region may increase as well This route supplements and partly supersedes the classic Paris Bordeaux railway line Details EditThe line was built by consortium LISEA consisting of Vinci Concessions 33 4 Caisse des depots et consignations 25 4 Meridiam 22 0 and Ardian 19 2 3 The consortium will operate and maintain the line until 2061 and charges tolls to train companies 3 The consortium invested 3 8 billion French government local authorities and the European Union paid 3 billion and 1 billion was contributed by SNCF Reseau subsidiary of SNCF 3 Another 1 2 billion was spent by SNCF Reseau on the construction of interconnecting lines control centres capacity enhancements at Bordeaux and remodelling the track layout at Gare Montparnasse 2 The new high speed route bypasses Libourne shortening the total distance traveled compared to the existing route No new stations were built between Saint Pierre des Corps and Bordeaux and service to Chatellerault Poitiers and Angouleme uses their existing train stations which new connections link to the high speed rails South of Poitiers a connection allows trains to access the old tracks towards La Rochelle The journey between Tours and Bordeaux is shortened by around 50 minutes 302 km 188 mi of high speed track was built together with a further 38 km 24 mi of conventional tracks that connect to the LGV 4 The new line is expected to increase annual ridership by about five million travellers Phases Edit For financial reasons the project was initially divided into three phases citation needed Phase 1 Angouleme Bordeaux Edit This article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information November 2010 2001 2003 Pre project studies and procedures 3 February 2005 16 March 2005 Final public hearings Start of 2012 Construction starts 31 July 2017 In servicePhase 2 Tours Angouleme Edit 2004 2006 Pre project studies and procedures 2009 Preliminary works and land acquisition Start of 2012 Main construction starts 2 July 2017 In serviceIn that initial plan Phase 2 had to be completed on a rapid schedule to cope with the increased in traffic expected after the opening of Phase 1 For this reason the French government announced additional funding in February 2009 to build Phases 1 and 2 together 5 Phase 3 Bordeaux Toulouse and Spanish border Edit citation needed Proposed not currently decided 2004 2005 Preliminary studies 2006 Public debateOn 30 July 2010 the French government announced that work on the section to the Spanish border is expected to begin before 2020 6 In 2015 however a public inquiry rejected the construction of this section due to cost 7 The Bordeaux Toulouse high speed line could be opened in 2029 8 History Edit TGV Reseau 25 September 1990 Service began on the south west branch of the LGV Atlantique to Saint Pierre des Corps west of Tours 1 April 1992 Initial proposals for a high speed link between Saint Pierre des Corps and Bordeaux 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 Tours to Bordeaux line 2011 A 50 year concession to build and operate the line is awarded to the LISEA consortium 9 1st quarter 2012 Construction begins expected to last 73 months until 1st quarter 2017 9 28 February 2017 Inauguration of the line 3 2 July 2017 Line opens commercially 10 References Edit RFF Map of electrified railway lines PDF a b Presidential inauguration for LGV Sud Europe Atlantique Railway Gazette International a b c d Presidential inauguration for LGV Sud Europe Atlantique Railway Gazette International Retrieved 27 March 2020 RFF selects Vinci to build Tours Bordeaux LGV Railway Gazette International 30 March 2010 Extra funds will speed up French investment Railway Gazette International 2009 02 04 SNIT makes rail a priority Railway Gazette International 30 July 2010 France rejects TGV extension plans which could be bad news for The Independent Retrieved 21 December 2015 In French LGV Bordeaux Toulouse debut des travaux en 2022 France Bleu in French Retrieved 3 March 2020 a b Tours Bordeaux concession signed Railway Gazette International 17 June 2011 Ouverture de la LGV Je suis venu passer la journee a Bordeaux temoigne un Parisien www 20minutes fr in French Retrieved 2 July 2017 External links EditLarge parts of this article were translated from the article LGV Sud Europe Atlantique on the French language Wikipedia Coordinates 46 05 23 N 0 07 30 E 46 0896 N 0 1250 E 46 0896 0 1250 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LGV Sud Europe Atlantique amp oldid 1135508086, wikipedia, 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