LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire
| Company type | Public-private partnership |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Predecessor | LGV Atlantique (western branch extension) |
| Founded | 1996 (planning commenced) |
| Founder | Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) |
| Fate | Operational since 2 July 2017 |
| Headquarters | Rennes , France |
Area served | Brittany and Pays de la Loire regions, France |
Key people | Hubert du Mesnil (RFF President during construction), Pierre Berger (Eiffage Managing Director) |
| Products | High-speed rail transport |
| Owner | Réseau Ferré de France (RFF), operated by SNCF under TGV brand |
| Website | www |
LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire
The LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire (abbreviated as LGV BPL, translated as Brittany–Loire Valley High-Speed Line) is a French high-speed railway connecting Connerré, Sarthe near Le Mans, to Cesson-Sévigné, Ille-et-Vilaine close to Rennes.
Initial planning commenced in 1996, with land purchases beginning in 2005. Once financing was secured, the French infrastructure authority Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) launched a tender process in December 2008. On 18 January 2011, RFF designated Eiffage as the preferred contractor. This project followed the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique as the second French high-speed line developed through a public-private partnership (PPP).
Construction officially started on 27 July 2012. The line became operational on 2 July 2017, inaugurated by President Emmanuel Macron, and is managed by SNCF under its TGV brand.
Background
From 1996 to 2001, the French infrastructure agency Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) examined extending the western branch of the LGV Atlantique, which would later be named LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire. Land acquisition began in 2005. On 30 October 2007, the project obtained a Declaration of Public Utility, an essential governmental endorsement for publicly funded initiatives, with an estimated budget of €2.5 billion and expected to cut Paris-Brittany travel times by 37 minutes. The line was incorporated into France's rail development plan under the Grenelle Environnement program.
By July 2008, funding arrangements were finalized: the French Government and regional authorities each pledged €990 million, while RFF committed €1.02 billion. The estimated cost had increased to €3.4 billion, with 90% of land acquisitions completed. President Nicolas Sarkozy identified LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire as one of four major projects financed through a national economic stimulus package.
In December 2008, RFF issued a call for tenders for a 'partnership contract' to construct the line; bids were submitted by May 2009. On 19 June 2009, three consortia were shortlisted: led by Bouygues TP, Eiffage, and Vinci Concessions. RFF provided additional technical documentation while preparing final consultation materials. Final proposals were received by October 2009.
On 18 January 2011, Eiffage was chosen as the preferred bidder based on criteria including cost-efficiency, financial solidity, technical standards, environmental considerations, construction timelines, and opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Contract signing was anticipated in early 2011.
On 28 July 2011, a €3.3 billion, 25-year public–private partnership (PPP) agreement was signed between RFF and Eiffage covering construction and maintenance of the high-speed line between Le Mans and Rennes, along with connecting tracks. The subsequent day, Minister Jean-Louis Borloo formalized the funding agreement. Preliminary route studies were planned from May 2011 to July 2012, with construction slated to begin in autumn 2012 and completion expected by late 2016.
Construction
The LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire’s construction officially commenced on 27 July 2012 during a ceremony attended by RFF President Hubert du Mesnil and Eiffage Managing Director Pierre Berger. The project was projected to generate approximately 10,000 jobs throughout the building phase.
Significant contracts included Italian company Ansaldo STS providing signalling systems under a €62 million ($80.5 million) contract awarded by Eiffage, and Indian firm Tata Steel supplying roughly 50,000 tonnes of rails under a €50 million ($65 million) agreement.
An associated but unrealized plan intended to upgrade the conventional Rennes–Brest and Rennes–Quimper lines to enable speeds up to 220 km/h by eliminating level crossings and straightening curves; this could have shortened Paris-Brest and Paris-Quimper travel times to three hours. The LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire officially opened on 2 July 2017 in an event presided over by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Route
Starting near Connerré in Sarthe, the line branches off from the LGV Atlantique, connecting north of Le Mans before veering southwest to join the Le Mans–Angers railway close to Sablé-sur-Sarthe. This 32 km segment shortens travel times to Nantes. The alignment skirts north of Laval and merges back with the conventional track at Cesson-Sévigné, in the vicinity of Rennes. The entire stretch measures approximately 214 km, with 182 km classified as high-speed track.
The infrastructure comprises seven covered trenches alongside ten viaducts. Construction materials included roughly 900,000 tonnes of ballast, 820 km of rail tracks, and 680,000 sleepers. Electric power for the majority of trains is delivered via overhead lines, with energy supplied by Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE) through substations designed to support speeds reaching 350 km/h.
Signalling along the 182 km high-speed portion adheres to European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Level 2 protocols, while the 32 km conventional connecting sections utilize ERTMS Level 1. Traditional visual signals are absent; instead, drivers receive operational data on in-cab displays. Continuous communication is maintained through Radio Block Centres (RBC) and Eurobalises positioned along the route, employing GSM-R technology. Centralized signalling control is managed from a command centre located in Rennes.
Journey times
- Paris–Rennes: 1 hour 26 minutes (reducing travel by 37 minutes)
- Paris–Nantes: 1 hour 52 minutes (8 minutes quicker)
- Paris–Saint-Malo: 2 hours 14 minutes (42 minutes shorter)
- Paris–Lorient: 2 hours 56 minutes (42 minutes faster)
- Paris–Brest: 3 hours 25 minutes (46 minutes less)