South-west TGV routes take shape

LOCAL consultations are to be launched in towns and villages in the south-west of France over the route of two new high-speed rail lines from Bordeaux to Toulouse and Spain.

Provisional routes have been agreed by authorities this week and the final decision will be made by the end of this year. The plans will then be submitted to ministers next spring.

Work on the lines would not begin until at least 2014, following a public value test.

Some 410km of new lines will be built to ease the strain on existing routes, which are expected to reach capacity in the next 15 to 20 years if nothing is done.

The route to Spain passes from Bordeaux to Mont-de-Marsan, Dax and Bayonne and will cut an hour and a half from the journey time. The Toulouse route passes through Agen and Moutauban.

Residents in the Basque country have campaigned against the new line, which they say is not necessary because the authorities have over-estimated the passenger growth estimates on existing lines.

Other affected communes, including Roquefort (Landes) and Auvillar (Tarn-et-Garonne) are against the chosen route.

The transport ministry website has a map showing a 1km-wide corridor where the line will pass.

A detailed map of the exact route put forward this week is not currently online.