France (Lignes à Grande Vitesse) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

LGV Nord

Arras Raccordement Nord: Arras (Bifurcation 199,6km) – Lille (Bifurcation 161,94km)

[ERT 18a, 250] (ERA-E 26B1; ERA-R 64C3; S+W 7A1) FR23/002

This west to north spur, linking Arras station with the LGV Nord-Europe to the north, is used by TGV trains running non-stop between Arras and Lille (whether Flandres or Europe stations). Any taking 33 minutes or more use the 'classic' line via Douai.

Lille Flandres Avoiding Line: La Madeleine (Jonctions du Lion d'Or) – Lille-Flandres Point Z – Lille-Europe AS

[ERT 11] (ERA-E 26A2, not shown; ERA-R 64A3, not shown; S+W 3B1) FR23/001

This line links the Lille-Flandres - Tourcoing line with the LGV Nord via the Raccordement de Becquerel, which descends alongside the Remisage de Lille Fives TGV Depot. It is used by Ouigo TGVs to and from Tourcoing.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

		TGV7669/7668	06:02 Tourcoing - Bordeaux
		TGV7867/7866	07:47 Tourcoing - Montpellier Sud de France
		TGV7836/7837	Marseille St Charles - 22:07 Paris Charles de Gaulle - Tourcoing

Note that TGV7660/7661 Bordeaux to Tourcoing call at Lille Flandres, so do not use this route.

These trains need to be booked in advance online.

LGV Interconnexion Est

[Champagne-Ardenne TGV –] Raccordement de Messy [– Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2]

(ERA-E 24A5; ERA-R 66A5/B4; S+W 31B D1) FR152A

This east to north curve allows trains between the LGV Est and Aéroport Charles de Gaulle to avoid Paris using the LGV Interconnection Est.

It is used by trains running directly between Strasbourg and Aéroport Charles de Gaulle. This includes trains to/from Brussels and those to/from south and west France (Rennes, Nantes and Bordeaux) which call at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2.

[Champagne-Ardenne TGV –] Raccordement d'Annet [- Marne-La-Vallée Chessy]

(ERA-E 24A5; ERA-R 66A5/B4; S+W 31B D1) FR152B

This east to south curve allows trains between the LGV Est and Marne-La-Vallée Chessy to avoid Paris using the LGV Interconnection Est.

It is used by trains running directly between Strasbourg and south and west France (Rennes, Nantes and Bordeaux) which do not call at Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2. There is currently only one service.

TGV5440

Bordeaux Saint-Jean - 11:55 Massy TGV - Strasbourg

Raccordement de Lieusaint: Le Creusot-TGV (Bifurcation de Crisenoy) – Combs-la-Ville-Quincy

(ERA 24C4; ERA-R 66B1; S+W 31C4-31D4) FR153

This is the former northern end of the LGV Sud-Est, now little used (a few trains are routed this way for engineering works or pathing purposes) as most TGVs to and from Paris Gare-de-Lyon run via Triangle de Coubert (Bifurcation Sud – Bifurcation Ouest), joining the main line from Gare-de-Lyon at Bifurcation de Creteil, north of Villeneuve Triage.

Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy or Le Creusot-TGV (Bifurcation de Valenton) – Les Saules

[ERT 11, 335 & 391] (ERA-E 24B4; ERA-R 66A2; S+W 31B:B3-B4) FR154

This connection between LGV-Interconnexion and the Grande Ceinture is used by all TGVs between LGVs Sud-Est, Est or Nord and LGV Atlantique. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

LGV Bretagne-Pays de la Loire

Raccordement de Connérré Fret

This east-west connection, east of Le Mans, links the classic Paris - Brest main line with the LGV avoiding Le Mans. Its purpose is to enable freight traffic to bypass Le Mans.

It has no booked passenger service and the only use that might possibly be envisaged would be diversions in the event of a complete blockade of Le Mans. Note that trains using it would have to be capable of running on the LGV, so any use would be extremely rare.

Raccordement de La Milesse Fret

This east-north west connection, north of Le Mans, links the LGV avoiding Le Mans with the classic Paris - Brest main line. Its purpose is to enable freight traffic to bypass Le Mans.

It has no booked passenger service and the only use that might possibly be envisaged would be diversions in the event of a complete blockade of Le Mans. Note that trains using it would have to be capable of running on the LGV, so any use would be extremely rare.