LGV Atlantique
| Company type | Railway line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | France's Atlantic coastline, Paris |
| Products | High-speed rail transport |
The LGV Atlantique (; ) is a high-speed railway line linking Gare Montparnasse, Paris, with France’s Atlantic coastline. Opened during 1989 and 1990, it includes two intermediate stops: Massy TGV station and Vendôme-Villiers-sur-Loir TGV station. At Courtalain, the route divides into two directions: one heading west toward Le Mans—serving the regions of Brittany and Pays de la Loire—and another turning southwest toward Tours, continuing onward to Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Both these branches have been further extended by the LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire and LGV Sud Europe Atlantique lines.
History
After the successful launch of France’s inaugural high-speed rail line, the LGV Sud-Est, which began operation on 27 September 1981 and transported ten million passengers within its first ten months, the LGV Atlantique was developed as the country’s second dedicated high-speed corridor. This initial line demonstrated SNCF’s advanced high-speed technology alongside a financing approach reliant on debt without government subsidies. Motivated by these achievements, French authorities accelerated plans for additional high-speed lines, including the LGV Atlantique.
Timeline
- 1 January 1983: establishment of SNCF’s new line no. 2 committee
- 25 May 1984: declaration of public utility
- 15 February 1985: commencement of construction at Boinville-le-Gaillard
- 1 July 1987: installation of the first LGV Atlantique rail at Auneau
- 24 September 1989: inauguration of the section between Montrouge and Connerré
- 18 May 1990: achievement of a TGV world speed record at 515.3 km/h
- 25 September 1990: opening of the southwestern branch
Route
Departing from Gare Montparnasse, the line traverses Paris’s southern suburbs partially beneath the Coulée Verte, a tunnel crowned by pedestrian paths and green spaces designed to minimize urban disruption. It follows the historic railway alignment from Paris to Chartres. TGV trains originating from northern or southeastern France via the LGV Interconnexion Est merge onto this route at Massy. Beyond Massy TGV station, the track passes through the Villejust tunnel and runs alongside the A10 motorway. Near the toll area at Saint-Arnoult, it veers southward before following the traditional Paris-to-Vendôme railway until reaching the junction at Courtalain.
Stations
The LGV Atlantique serves several major stations:
1 Le Mans is situated on the western branch of the LGV Atlantique.
Extensions
To improve connectivity and shorten journey durations, both branches have been extended. The western branch incorporates the LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire, which reduces travel time between Paris and Rennes by approximately 37 minutes. The southern branch includes integration with the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique, cutting travel times to Tours and Bordeaux by about 50 minutes. These extensions began operation in July 2017, enhancing service coverage and operational performance.