TGVs in high-speed Rennes/Bordeaux tests

Two new high-speed TGVs left Paris Montparnasse station this morning at the same time, heading for Rennes and Bordeaux in the first full-speed test of the new Paris-Rennes and Paris-Bordeaux lines.

The TGVs will be tested to the full in a rehearsal for the routes opening together in 25 days, on July 2.

SNCF said today the rehearsal will make sure the trains work on the track in the way that they are supposed to and that the drivers and train crews are in full control at every stage.

It will also allow SNCF to test out new timetables that will come into force on July 2 when 100,000 train times are changing across the north and west of the country to fit in with the TGV schedule.

The two trains will be travelling empty for the test. The TGV Ouest Rennes train will cut 35minutes from the journey to complete the route in 1hr25 to arrive at 10.59, while the Bordeaux TGV Océane cuts 1hr 10 off the journey to take just two hours four minutes.