Le Train to Operate High-Speed Services from Paris
Written by David Briginshaw, International Railway Journal
Photo Credit: Le Train
PARIS, France –– FRENCH new entrant, Le Train, has signed framework track access contracts with infrastructure manager SNCF Network to operate open-access high-speed services from Paris to Rennes and Bordeaux.
Le Train was set up in 2020 with the objective of providing direct high-speed services between regional cities in western France without having to go through Paris, with the focus initially on services linking Bordeaux with Nantes and Rennes.
However, it says that on certain major routes to Paris, demand exceeds supply. “Trains are full, and passengers struggle to find seats at times that suit them,” Le Train says.
“Le Train is today expanding its network of direct high-speed rail lines between regional cities with two new connections to Paris, on two routes where demand is high and supply is insufficient,” says Alain Getraud, co-founder and CEO of Le Train. “Creating more services means giving everyone access to rail and low-carbon mobility.”
The company says the next step is to submit the framework agreements to French rail regulator ART to verify that Le Train’s plans are compatible with non-discriminatory access to the network.
