WITH just 25 days remaining before the start of commercial operations on the Bretagne-Pays de la Loire and Sud Europ Atlantique high-speed lines, French National Railways (SNCF) carried out parallel high-speed test runs using two TGV sets on June 7.

IN an effort to attract 15 million customers to its flagship high-speed services by 2020, French National Railways (SNCF) announced a new strategy on May 29, which includes the rebranding of TGV to inOui.

FRENCH president Mr François Hollande attended an inauguration ceremony at Villognon in the southwestern department of Charente on February 28 to mark the official completion of infrastructure on the Sud Europe Atlantique high-speed line from Tours to Bordeaux.

AN order for 15 additional TGV Euroduplex Océane sets was approved by the board of French National Railways (SNCF) passenger subsidiary SNCF Mobility at a meeting in Paris on February 23.

THE Bretagne-Pays de la Loire high-speed line moved another step closer to the start of operations at the end of January, when TGVs reached the maximum testing speed of 352km/h.

A new fares concept offering 16-27-years olds almost unlimited travel on TGV and inter-city services was unveiled on January 25 by Mrs Rachel Picard, CEO of Voyages SNCF.

WI-FI services were officially launched on TGV services on the Paris - Lyon high-speed line on December 15 following the completion of a collaborative project by 21net and Engie Ineo.

THE first Alstom TGV 2N2 Euroduplex Atlantique trains for France’s Sud Europ Atlantique high-speed line entered commercial service on December 11, when French secretary of state for transport Mr Alain Vidalies and Mrs Florence Parly, executive director of Voyages SNCF welcomed passengers aboard the first service, the 09.28 Paris Montparnasse - Toulouse Matabiau.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) will introduce on December 1 a new online compensation scheme for passengers whose journeys on TGV or inter-city services are delayed by 30 minutes or more.