The new LGV Sud Europe Atlantique high-speed line between Tours and Bordeaux was inaugurated on 28 February by President François Hollande, SNCF Réseau president Patrick Jeantet and Laurent Cavrois, president of the LISEA consortium that has built and part-financed the new line under a 50-year concession.

Running for 302km from Saint-Avertin (south of Tours) to Ambarès-et-Lagrave (north of Bordeaux), the line is expected to carry 20 million passengers per year.

Mr Jeantet said: “This is a historic year for high-speed in rail in France, with 2017 also seeing the opening of the high-speed line between Le Mans and Rennes, as well as the Nîmes-Montpellier bypass.

“Made possible by the close partnership between LISEA and SNCF Réseau, the completion of LGV SEA is the first act in the largest railway project in Europe in recent years.”