LGV Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur


The LGV Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, also referred to as the LGV PACA and LGV Côte d'Azur, is a French high-speed rail project intended to extend the LGV Méditerranée towards the Côte d'Azur. The project is not currently funded and construction would begin around 2020 at the earliest.

Route

Three principal route options were considered, mainly concerning the alignment between Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Toulon and Draguignan.
Additional connections between the mediterranean coast between Barcelona, Montpellier, Marseille, Nice and Genoa and the southern cross route towards Toulouse and Bordeaux would be affected; the new line would link Marseille to Genoa in 3:15, and Barcelona in 3:35.
The final route alignment decision and its details were announced by French Ecology Minister Jean-Louis Borloo on 30 June 2009, opting for the longest route via Marseille, Toulon, and Nice.

Controversy

This project was subject to public debate between 21 February and 8 July 2005.
There was much local opposition to the project, particularly by various environmental organisations. Additionally differences of opinion due to the vested interests of the three départements concerned caused friction. Local elected officials have approved the project and the presidents of the general committees of the three départements have agreed to propose an alternative route in order to reconcile their respective positions.

Progress

The Conseil d’Orientation des Infrastructures recommended taking forward a new line between Marseille and Nice as a priority.