LGV Atlantique

LGV Atlantique
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	RFF
Locale	Western France
Termini	Gare Montparnasse, Paris southwestern branch: near Tours western branch: near Le Mans
Service
System	SNCF
Operator(s)	SNCF
History
Opened	1989-1990
Technical
Line length	232 km (144 mi) + 52 km (32 mi) (western branch)
Number of tracks	Double track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz, Tours bypass 1.5 kV DC
Operating speed	300 km/h (186 mph)
Signalling	TVM-430
Route map Template:Infobox rdt

The LGV Atlantique is a high-speed railway line running from Paris (Gare Montparnasse) to Western France. It opened in 1989–1990. It divides into two parts at Courtalain, one going westward to Le Mans (towards Brittany and Pays de la Loire), the second one going southwestward to Tours (and onward towards Aquitaine). Both branches have been extended, by the LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire and the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique.

Route

French TGV network, with the LGV Atlantique in yellow running south-west from Paris

The line leaves Gare Montparnasse to cross Paris's southern suburbs, partly under the Coulée Verte. This is a tunnel above which footpaths and recreational areas have been created, to reduce the effect of the LGV running through the area. The line at this point follows the route of the former railway line from Paris to Chartres. TGVs coming from the north or southeast of France via the LGV Interconnexion Est join the line at Massy. After the new Massy TGV station, the line passes through the Villejust tunnel and then follows the A10 motorway. Near the Saint-Arnoult toll plaza, the LGV turns south and leaves the motorway. The line then follows the ligne classique from Paris to Vendôme until the junction at Courtalain.

Stations

The LGV Atlantique serves the following stations:

• Paris Montparnasse
• Massy TGV
• Le Mans¹
• Vendôme
• Tours

¹ Le Mans is located on the western branch of the LGV Atlantique.

History

• 1 January 1983: creation of SNCF new line no. 2 committee
• 25 May 1984: public utility declaration
• 15 February 1985: official beginning of works at Boinville-le-Gaillard
• 1 July 1987: laying of first LGV Atlantique rail at Auneau
• 24 September 1989: line opens from Montrouge to Connerré
• 18 May 1990: TGV world speed record of 515.3 km/h
• 25 September 1990: southwestern branch opens
• 27 December 1990: baby born on a TGV Atlantique train

Extensions

Extensions to both branches have been built. The western branch is augmented by the LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire project, resulting in a reduction of 37 mins between Paris and Rennes. The Southern branch is augmented by the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique project, resulting in a reduction of around 50 minutes to Tours and Bordeaux. Both lines entered service in July 2017.

See also

• High-speed rail in France

External links

• High-speed rail lines site (in French)