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

LGV Nord

The Ligne à Grande Vitesse Nord, typically shortened to LGV Nord, is a 333-kilometre-long high-speed rail line, opened in 1993, that connects Paris to the Belgian border and the Channel Tunnel via Lille.

Arras Raccordement Sud: Bif. Croisilles - Bif. Arras-Sud)

(ERA-E 26B1; ERA-R 64C3; S+W 6D2/7A2) FR23/601

This 10km east to north spur, linking the LGV Nord with Arras station is used by TGV trains running non-stop Paris Nord <=> Arras. The junctions at each end are grade separated.

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

(ERA-E 26B1; ERA-R 64C3; S+W 7A1) FR23/602

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. The junction onto the LGV is grade separated.

Lille Flandres - connections to LGV Nord - [Paris Nord]

(ERA-E 26A2, not shown; ERA-R 64A3, not shown; S+W 3B1) FR23/603

TGV services from Paris Nord to Lille Flandres via the LGV Nord leave the LGV near Lezennes, in the south of Lille, on a connection called ATGV. Leaving Lille Flandres TGVs fly over the LGV to line DTGV which joins the LGV towards Paris Nord.

Raccordement de Becquerel (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) FR23/604

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

Raccordement de Cassel

(ERA-E 26B5; ERA-R 67B5; S+W 2B2) FR23/605

This single track curve connects the LGV Nord with the Hazebrouck to Dunkerque line and is used by TGV services Paris Nord <=> Dunkerque

Raccordement de Fréthun

(ERA-E 26B4, not shown; ERA-R 67BA3, not shown; S+W 1B2) FR23/606

This approximately 1km connection allows trains off the LGV Nord to join the Boulogne - Calais line and call at the non-TGV platforms at Calais-Fréthun station. It is used by daily Paris Nord <=> Boulogne Ville TGV services (reverse at Calais-Fréthun) and by one Paris Nord to Calais Ville TGV.

SSuX

TGV7591

Paris Nord - 21:20 Arras - Calais Ville

LGV Interconnexion Est

[Aéroport de Paris-Charles de Gaulle 2] - Raccordement de Vémars - [Paris Nord]

(ERA-E 24A4; ERA-R 66A5/B5; S+W 31C1) FR182

This south to west curve of the Triangle de Vémars allows trains to/from the LGV Est to start/terminate at Paris Nord instead of Paris Est.

It will be used for this purpose on 4/5 November and 11/12 November 2023. These trains will also use route FR152A, above.

[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 Est

Raccordement Trois Puits: Champagne-Ardenne TGV – Trois Puits [ – Reims]

[ERT 389, fiche C01 Sedan - Charleville-Mézières - Reims - Paris, C09 Reims - Champagne-Ardenne TGV - Épernay] (ERA-E 31A1; ERA-R 71B4; S+W 17A4-17B4) FR201

This grade separated link with the LGV Est is unusual in that the ground level north side track is used by non-TGV shuttle trains (navettes) between Reims and Champagne-Ardenne TGV and vice versa as well as towards Paris TGV's, whereas the flyover is used only by through TGV services between Paris Est and Reims.

Raccordement de Réding: (Nancy -) Sarrebourg - Raccordement de Réding - LGV Est Européenne (- Strasbourg)

[ERT 383, fiche A13 Strasbourg - Nancy] (ERA-E 31A4; ERA-R 72B4; S+W 37B3 (Not shown)) FR23/214

This is the lengthy connection from Sarrebourg, on the classic route from Nancy to Strasbourg, onto the LGV Est Européenne to Strasbourg.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Since December 2021 two daily TGV services have taken this route.

		TGV5516	06:52 Nice Ville - 16:00 Strasbourg - Nancy
		TGV5537	12:26 Nancy - Nice Ville

Raccordement de Lucy: Rémilly (Bif. km 124,255) - Lesse (Bif. km 306)

[ERT 379] (ERA-E 31A4; ERA-R 72A4; S+W 36C2) FR23/215

This north west to south east connection, south east of Rémilly, is used by TGVs between Luxembourg, Metz and Strasbourg transferring between the Alsace-Lorraine 'classic' line and the section of LGV Est east of here.

Raccordement de Lucy is the opposite angle from the curve which allows through running between Paris and the Alsace-Lorraine 'classic' line east of here, which formed the eastern exit from LGV Est until 2016 but which is now used only if LGV Est east of here is blocked.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map. Pending redrawing of the map, note that the eastern and western junctions on LGV Est are both grade-separated (flyovers).

D1		TGV5521	05:46 Metz - Montpellier St Roch
		TGV9877	Luxembourg - 08:11 Metz - Marseille St Charles
		TGV9879	Luxembourg - 12:12 Metz - Montpellier Sud de France
		TGV9898	Montpellier St Roch - 12:31 Strasbourg - Luxembourg
		TGV5500	Montpellier St Roch - 20:24 Strasbourg - Metz
D		TGV9896	Marseille St Charles - 22:14 Strasbourg - Luxembourg

D1: On days when this train leaves Metz earlier it is likely to run via the old main line and not this route.

LGV Sud-Est

Massy TGV – Chemin d'Antony (Bifurcation km 23,4)

[ERT 11, 335 & 391] (ERA-E 24C3; ERA-R 65C2; S+W 31A:D4) FR155

This connection between LGV Atlantique 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 Rhin-Rhône

Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV east curve

(ERA-E 31C3; ERA-R 72A1; S+W 67D4) FR23/355

This curve was used by direct TGVs between Mulhouse and Besançon Viotte. There are no such services in the current timetable.

Trains between Besançon-Franche-Comté TGV station and Besançon Viotte use the west curve.

LGV Sud-Ouest

Raccordement de Port de Piles: north of Châtellerault

[ERT 300] (ERA-E 27C3 not shown correctly; ERA-R 74A5; 18I10 ) FR23/401

This provides a link from the LGV SEA for TGVs serving Châtellerault as well as Poitiers. It probably came into service at the end of 2017. The trains listed below run non-stop between Paris Montparnasss and Châtellerault, so can be expected to use this connection. It is not clear whether TGVs calling at St Pierre des Corps and Châtellerault use the LGV and this connection or remain on the old main line. Travellers' reports will be welcome.

D	SX	TGV8383	16:57 Paris Montparnasse - Poitiers/La Rochelle Ville/Bordeaux St Jean
D	FSSuX	TGV8488	Bordeaux St Jean- 18:28 Châtellerault - Paris Montparnasse

Raccordement Juillé and Raccordement Villognon (north of Angoulême)

[ERT 300] (ERA-E 28B3, not shown correctly; ERA-R 73C3) FR402

These two links north of Angoulême between LGV SEA and the 'classic' line, which came into service 2 July 2017, are about 7.25km apart but function as a single grade separated junction.
Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

They are normally used by TGVs serving Angoulême.

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 to 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.

Raccordement de La Milesse Voyageurs

This south to north west connection, north of Le Mans, links the classic line from Le Mans with the LGV to Rennes.

It is used by TGVs between Le Mans and Rennes. It appears that the majority of TGVs between Paris and Angers which call at Le Mans, or perhaps all such trains, do not use this connection, but instead the ‘classic’ line between Le Mans and Angers.

Sablé-sur-Sarthe Triangle

[ERT 280 & 287, fiche Ligne 28] (ERA-E 27B2; ERA-R 69C2; S+W 45C4) FR20/251

This triangular junction provides a link southwards from the LGV BPL to the 'classic' Le Mans - Angers [ - Nantes] line at Sablé-sur-Sarthe. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

• The east to south curve (Raccordement de Sablé-sur-Sarthe) enables TGVs to run between Paris and Angers. This curve is used by all such trains which do not call at Le Mans. However, it appears that the majority of TGVs which call at Le Mans, or perhaps all such trains, use the ‘classic’ line between Le Mans and Angers.
• The west to south curve (Virgule de Sablé-sur-Sarthe: Laval (SEI 75 Auvers) - Sablé-sur-Sarthe) enables TER trains to run between Rennes and Nantes via Laval and Angers.