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. Both branches have been extended, by the LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire and the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique.

Route

The line leaves Gare Montparnasse to cross Paris's southern suburbs, partly under the :fr:Coulée verte du sud parisien|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:
1 Le Mans is located on the western branch of the LGV Atlantique.

History

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.