Benefits of the GPSO

New links in local areas

The New Line follows the map of the South-West. It strengthens the network of towns and cities that are 30 minutes to 1h30 apart (Toulouse, Bordeaux, Angoulême, Saintes, Poitiers, Montauban, Agen, Auch, Albi, Captieux, Cahors, Tarbes, Pau, Mont-de-Marsan, Castres, Dax, etc.).

It improves and makes more attractive certain connections (Toulouse–Bordeaux in 1h05 instead of the current 2h10, and Bordeaux–Dax in 50 minutes instead of the current 1h10) and creates new direct rail links that are virtually impossible by train today, such as the link between Mont-de-Marsan and Toulouse (1h15 on the new line) and between Agen and Mont-de-Marsan (30 minutes on the new line compared with 1h40 by car at present). Agen will be 35 minutes from Bordeaux and Toulouse instead of 1h05 today.

At national level, in the Great South-West of France, which currently has few high-speed lines compared with the rest of France, the New Line is a more equitable development that will bring high-speed rail to a triangle linking Toulouse, Bordeaux and the Basque Country. A journey between Paris and Toulouse will take 3h10 instead of the current 4h20. This time saving is essential if we are to compete with air or car travel. An hour will also be saved on journeys such as Bordeaux-Montpellier/Marseille and Bordeaux-Toulouse-Barcelona.
 

The New Line is the future of connections in Europe

The new Toulouse–Bordeaux–Dax line is part of the core network of the European Union’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and the Atlantic Priority Corridor. It is linked to the north by the high-speed line Sud Europe Atlantique (SEA; Paris–Bordeaux), in service since July 2017. It is also linked to the Mediterranean Corridor rail network and the future Spanish rail network to the south, in particular the new Montpellier–Perpignan line in the Occitania region (2040) and the new line from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Bilbao and San Sebastián, known as the ‘Basque Y’ line (under construction and due to come into service in 2030).

Modal shift must happen quickly and on a large scale to respond to the climate crisis

By offering an alternative to air and road travel, the GPSO will save 340,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year when it is commissioned, reaching carbon neutrality around 2042. Savings will increase to 550,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year 20 years later. Depending on the source (e.g. the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) or the Ministry of Ecological Transition), trains emit 50 to 70 times less CO₂ than planes. A high-speed train (TGV) filled to 80% capacity is equivalent to 370 car journeys avoided. With shorter journey times and attractive pricing for all passengers, high-speed lines are changing their use and competing with cars and planes on medium and long distances.

Environmental impact avoided, reduced or offset

From the earliest stages of its design, the GPSO was conceived using the ERC (‘avoid, reduce, offset’) approach to minimise environmental damage. Impacts that cannot be avoided or reduced will be offset. The right of way of the high-speed lines covers 4,830 ha. Thanks to avoidance measures, less than 700 ha of sensitive natural areas and 250 ha of wetlands will be affected. Numerous structures (for wildlife passage and water flow) will ensure the continuity of ecological corridors. The environmental offsetting built into the project will restore more than twice this area.

The high-speed line will generate a huge increase in the number of passengers using low-carbon transport.

Forecasts made during the public enquiry put the number of extra passengers using the new Bordeaux–Toulouse–Dax line at between 5 and 7 million per year. Most of the additional traffic will come from regional connections: more than 50% of the increase, with 3.5 to 4 million, and up to more than 6 million rail journeys within the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitania regions in 2040.

These figures need to be updated in the light of current conditions and medium-term forecasts, but they should probably be revised upwards.

The Paris-Bordeaux line is a popular success story

The line has been a real success. Since its opening in 2017, the number of TGV passengers has exceeded expectations. Over 3.8 million passengers use TGVs in this Atlantic Corridor. Traffic forecasts for the new Bordeaux-Toulouse and Bordeaux-Dax lines predict an additional 5 to 7 million passengers per year. The passenger profile is broad: students, professionals, tourists, families, etc. for both leisure and business travel.

The New Line improves services for everyday trains

The opening of the Paris–Bordeaux high-speed line has improved services for daily travellers, with a 12% increase in the number of regional trains in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, in particular to ensure connections. By freeing up capacity on existing lines, the new Bordeaux-Toulouse and Bordeaux-Dax lines will encourage the development of regional trains, a priority for everyday users. With new rail services, the New Line will benefit all users in the Great South-West.

Regional express services (RERs) for access to Toulouse and Bordeaux

The rail works north of Toulouse and south of Bordeaux will improve all local and daily services in these areas. They create new capacity by moving from 2 to 3 or 4 tracks. They allow more trains to run, especially at peak times. The New Line makes it possible to create urban RERs in both conurbations.

The high-speed line will mean more trains every day for everyone

For the rail works south of Bordeaux (AFSB), the service target for the rush hour is:

• 4 suburban regional express trains (TERs) between Bordeaux and Beautiran/Langon, serving all stations between Langon and Bordeaux
• 1 Agen–Bordeaux TER, bus between Agen and Marmande and serving the main stations between Marmande and Bordeaux
• 1 Marmande–Bordeaux TER, bus between Marmande and Langon and serving the main stations between Langon and Bordeaux.
   

This increase in service is in line with the aim of a desaturated 15-minute TER service* on the Saint-Mariens–Langon line, as part of the metropolitan RER project.

* This is a service that links two towns by the same train, passing through the metropolis – in this case Bordeaux – without changing trains. These desaturated services avoid connections between suburbs and free up significant capacity in the central station.

For the rail works north of Toulouse (AFNT), the aims of the service are as follows:

• TER trains serving all stations between Toulouse and Castelnau-d’Estrétefonds. Trains only run during rush hours (7 am to 9 am and 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm), every quarter of an hour. There are a total of 10 round trips per day (4 in the morning rush hour and 6 in the evening rush hour), i.e. 20 trains per day.
• TER commuter trains serving all stations between Toulouse and Montauban. These trains run once an hour during rush hours of 7 am to 9 am and 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm (5 return trips a day) and once during off-peak hours (4 return trips). Over the course of the day, there are 9 return trips or 18 trains.
• ‘Intercity’ TER trains serving the main stations between Toulouse, Agen and Brive. These are semi-direct services providing fast connections to Toulouse. ‘Intercity” trains run at the rate of one per hour for each branch at peak times: between 7 am and 9 am and between 4 pm and 7 pm. They do not run outside these times. During the day, there are 10 ‘intercity’ services between Toulouse and Agen, and 10 between Toulouse and Cahors/Brive.
• ‘City network’ TER trains serving all stations on the two routes Toulouse–Montauban–Agen and Toulouse–Montauban–Brive. The ‘city networks’ run a train every two hours on each branch (alternating between Brive and Agen) throughout the day.

Rail freight to get lorries off the road

10,000 lorries a day currently use the Bordeaux–Spain route: most of the trans-Pyrenees trade between France and Spain is long-distance and by road. A source of disturbances, pollution, unsafe traffic and congestion on the outskirts of urban areas, this wall of lorries saturates the A63 motorway and the N10 to the north of Bordeaux. The new high-speed lines in the Great South-West will free up capacity on existing lines to encourage the development of rail freight.

The South-West New Line for all businesses and employment...

A New Line opens up new routes for regional, national and European trade: with 5 to 7 million additional passengers expected, including many tourists, the New Line Toulouse-Bordeaux-Dax is a key asset for economic development. High-speed rail access is particularly important for the tourism industry, which is a key sector for the Great South-West.

The New Line will reduce the journey time from Toulouse to Paris from 4h20 to 3h10 and create new links between the cities of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitania. With commuter flights being phased out by law, this time is vital for businesses in the South-West, particularly in medium-sized towns.

...and for the attractiveness of our regions.

A New Line contributes to the attractiveness of the area in all economic sectors. The main benefits will be felt in the metropolitan areas of Toulouse and Bordeaux, as well as in medium-sized towns. For example, the Agen, Mont-de-Marsan, Dax and Montauban areas are positioned as dynamic and easily accessible intermediate centres. Faster access to infrastructure is a lever for local and regional companies to set up new businesses and expand their markets.

The Paris–Bordeaux high-speed line, inaugurated in 2017, illustrates this leverage effect on economic development: dynamic demographics, the acceleration of urban projects, arrivals of new companies in the conurbations served, and a boost to economic activities.