LGV Atlantique

LGV Atlantique
Overview
System	SNCF
Status	Operational
Locale	Western France
Termini	Gare Montparnasse, Paris southwestern branch: near Tours western branch: near Le Mans
Operation
Opened	1989-1990
Owner	RFF
Operator(s)	SNCF
Technical
Line length	232 km (144 mi) + 52 km (32 mi) (western branch)
Number of tracks	Double track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz, Tours bypass 1.5 kV DC
Route map 0.5 Paris-Montparnasse 1.2 Line to Le Mans 14.1 Line from Valenton 14.4 Massy TGV 17.0 Tunnel de Villejust (4805 m) from Brétigny 65.9 to Châteaudun 130.2 Junction with Le Mans branch Future LGV BPL to Rennes Line from Chartres 182.0 Line to Le Mans 162.1 Vendôme TGV 214.4 River Loire (459 m) Line from Tours 216.0 Line to Orléans 216.3 to Vierzon 217.0 218.3 River Cher (370 m) 223.0 Future LGV SEA to Bordeaux 232.2 Line from Tours Line to Bordeaux

The LGV Atlantique is a high-speed railway line running from Paris (Gare Montparnasse) to Western France. It opened in 1989-1990. It divides into two parts at Courtalain, one going westward to Le Mans (towards Brittany and Pays de la Loire), the second one going southwestward to Tours (towards Aquitaine). Both branches are being extended, by the LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire and the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique.

The line leaves Gare Montparnasse to cross Paris's southern suburbs, partly under the . This is a tunnel above which footpaths and recreational areas have been created, to reduce the effect of the LGV running through the area. The line at this point follows the route of the former railway line from Paris to Chartres. TGVs coming from the north or southeast of France via the LGV Interconnexion Est join the line at Massy. After the new Massy TGV station, the line passes through the Villejust tunnel and then follows the A10 motorway. Near the Saint-Arnoult toll plaza, the LGV turns south and leaves the motorway. The line then follows the ligne classique from Paris to Vendôme until the junction at Courtalain.

The LGV Atlantique serves the following stations:

¹ Le Mans is located on the western branch of the LGV Atlantique.

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Wikipedia