FRENCH Rail Network (RFF) has confirmed that Eiffage will be awarded a public-private partnership contract to build and maintain a 214km high-speed line extension to TGV Atlantique from Le Mans to Rennes. RFF says it will work quickly to conclude the deal by the summer as the line needs to be completed by 2016. Journey times from Paris to destinations in Brittany will be cut by 37 minutes.
FRENCH Rail Network (RFF) has confirmed that Eiffage will be awarded a public-private partnership contract to build and maintain a 214km high-speed line extension to TGV Atlantique from Le Mans to Rennes. RFF says it will work quickly to conclude the deal by the summer as the line needs to be completed by 2016. Journey times from Paris to destinations in Brittany will be cut by 37 minutes.
The total cost of the project is Euros 3.4 billion and the concession will run for 25 years. The public sector financing will come from RFF (43%) and in equal shares from the national and regional governments.
The new line comprises 182km of high-speed track and 32km of conventional connections to the existing network. It will run from Connerré, 20km east of Le Mans, to Rennes. A 4km branch is also planned to Sablé-sur-Sarthe to enable trains from Paris to Nantes to make use of the eastern part of the new line. This will cost an additional Euros 36 million.
