You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in French. (April 2022)Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the French article. Machine translation, likeDeepL orGoogle Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. Youmust providecopyright attribution in theedit summary accompanying your translation by providing aninterlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary isContent in this edit is translated from the existing French Wikipedia article at [[:fr:LGV Sud-Est]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template{{Translated|fr|LGV Sud-Est}} to thetalk page. For more guidance, seeWikipedia:Translation.

LGV Sud-Est
The LGV Sud-Est inCruzilles-lès-Mépillat
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	SNCF (1981–1997) RFF (1997–2014) SNCF Réseau (2015–present)
Locale	Île-de-France Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Termini	Combs-la-Ville,Seine-et-Marne Sathonay-Camp,Metropolis of Lyon
Service
System	SNCF
Operator(s)	SNCF
History
Opened	22 September 1981:Saint-Florentin–Sathonay-Camp 25 September 1983:Combs-la-Ville–Saint-Florentin
Technical
Line length	409 km (254 mi)
Number of tracks	Double track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz[1]
Operating speed	300 km/h (190 mph)
Signalling	TVM-300 (current),ETCS Level 2 (future, in deployment)[2]
Maximum incline	3.6%
Route map Legend fromParis-Gare de Lyon RER LGV Interconnexion Est fromMarne-la-Vallée 29.4 0.0 PLM Main Line toDijon 17.1 42.7 RiverSeine (134 m) 44.0 Montereau – Flamboin-Gouaix 117.2 PLM Main Line Paris –Dijon 162.1 PLM Main Line fromSens PLM Main Line toMontbard andDijon 273.8 Le Creusot TGV 274.6 Nevers –Chagny 334.0 Mâcon-Loché TGV PLM Main Line fromMâcon 336.0 PLM Main Line toLyon-Perrache 337.5 RiverSaône (340 m) 337.7 toBourg-en-Bresse 380.5 fromBourg-en-Bresse LGV Rhône-Alpes toValence   389.3 Sathonay-Rillieux Descent to city level. toLyon Part-Dieu This diagram: view talk edit

TheLGV Sud-Est (French:Ligne à Grande Vitesse Sud-Est; English:South East high-speed line) is aFrench high-speed rail line which connects theParis andLyon areas. It was France's first high-speed rail line, it has also been the most widely used line in France as well as being the busiest high-speed line in Europe.^[3]

Construction of LGV Sud-Est commenced in 1976, although development of the associated technologies had been underway for over a decade prior. Several key decisions, such as the use of overhead electrification instead ofgas turbines, were influenced by geopolitical events as much as by innovations. On 22 September 1981, the inauguration of the first section betweenSaint-Florentin andSathonay-Camp was attended by PresidentFrançois Mitterrand. It marked the beginning of the re-invigoration of French passenger rail service; ten million passengers travelled on the LGV Sud-Est within its first ten months of operation while domestic flights between Paris and Lyon declined substantially due to the effectiveness of TGV services.

The high rate of return generated by LGV Sud-Est quickly motivated the construction of other LGVs. Several of these have extended the reach of the high-speed trains that use LGV Sud-Est, such as theLGV Rhône-Alpes andLGV Méditerranée to the south and theLGV Interconnexion Est to the north; these connecting lines shortened journey times between Paris and the southeast of France (Marseille,Montpellier andNice),Switzerland andItaly, as well as between the southeast and the north and west of France, theUnited Kingdom andBelgium. The LGV Rhône-Alpes, Sud-Est and Méditerranée, taken as a whole, were also nicknamed theCity To Coast (C2C) Highway ("Ville à la Mer").^{[citation needed]}

Following the creation ofSNCF's research department in 1966, one of its primary endeavours was code-named "C03: Railways possibilities on new infrastructure (tracks)".^[4] In 1971, the "C03" project, which had been also garnered the name "TGV Sud-Est", was validated by the French government. Following the1973 oil crisis, which had substantially increased oil prices, it was decided to favour electric traction overgas turbine propulsion; as a consequence, high-speedpantographs and overhead electrification was developed for use on what would become LGV Sud-Est.^[4][5]

During 1976, construction of infrastructure for LGV Sud-Est commenced.^[6] One year later, the SNCF placed its initial production order with the rolling stock manufacturing groupAlstom–Francorail–MTE for 87TGV Sud-Est trainsets that would later run on the line.^[4]

On 27 September 1981, LGV Sud-Est was opened to the public.^[7][8] It was an instant success, ten million passengers were recorded as travelling on the line within its first ten months. As a result, domestic flights between Paris and Lyon declined substantially as the travelling public switched to using the TGV instead.^[7]

By 2020, LGV Sud-Est was still reportedly the most widely used line in France as well as being the busiest high-speed line in Europe.^[3] The line carried a third of all railway traffic in France, including up to 300 TGVs per day, and carried 52 million passengers through 2019.^[3]

• 10 July 1967:SNCF's research division launches project C03 on high-speed rail, titled "Rail Transport Possibilities through New Infrastructure"
• 26 March 1971: new line project approved by inter-ministerial committee^[9]
• 23 March 1976:declaration of public utility signed by Prime MinisterJacques Chirac
• 7 December 1976: works commence atÉcuisses,Saône-et-Loire
• 14 June 1979: first rails laid nearMontchanin, Saône-et-Loire
• 20 November 1980: track laying ends inCluny, Saône-et-Loire
• 26 February 1981: trainset no. 16 (SNCF TGV Sud-Est) breaks the world record for rail speed at 380 km/h^[8] betweenCourcelles-Frémoy,Côte-d'Or andDyé,Yonne in a gradually descending portion of the line
• 22 September 1981: inauguration of the first section (Saint-Florentin to Montchanin) by the President of the Republic,François Mitterrand
• 27 September 1981: commercial service begins^[7]
• 25 September 1983: service begins on the northern section (Combs-la-Ville to Saint-Florentin)^[10]
• 31 August 1992: derailment at 270 km/h of a TGV in Macon-Loché station; several passengers waiting on the platform are slightly injured by flying ballast
• 13 December 1992: service begins on northern section ofLGV Rhône-Alpes (Montanay toSaint-Quentin-Fallavier)
• 26 May 1994: service begins onLGV Interconnexion Est (connection withLGV Nord)
• March 1996: beginning of line renovation works (replacement of ballast and points, works designed to last until 2006)
• 2 June 1996: service begins at the junction withVilleneuve-Saint-Georges by theCoubert triangle^{[citation needed]}

The line crosses sixdepartments, from north to south:

• Seine-et-Marne
• Yonne
• Côte-d'Or
• Saône-et-Loire
• Ain
• Rhône

TheTGV system is compatible with the regular rail network, avoiding the need for new infrastructure construction to reach existing train stations in the dense urban areas of Paris and Lyon.^[7]

The distance from Paris (Gare de Lyon) to Lyon (Part-Dieu) is 425 km (264 mi). The LGV route is 409 km (254 mi) long; by avoiding built-up areas between Paris and Lyon (particularlyDijon) this enables a route 87 km (54 mi) shorter than the regular line, which is 512 km (318 mi) long. The route length was further shortened by using higher grades (up to 3.5%, compared to a maximum of 0.8% on the previous line) which allowed the line to follow a direct route rather than deviating to avoid hills.^[11] There are no tunnels.

The line includes various connectors to the regular rail network:

• at Pasilly-Aisy towardsDijon, and further through theJura Mountains toVallorbe andLausanne orNeuchâtel andZurich
• at Mâcon-Pont-de-Veyle towardsBourg-en-Bresse and theSavoie department
• atSaint-Florentin
• atLe Creusot station
• atMâcon-Loché station

These last three are used by service trains or in order to divert passenger trains if needed.

The line runs next to theA5 autoroute for 60 km (37 mi) and the N79 road for 15 km (9.3 mi). For its full length, a 5 m (16 ft)-wide area has been reserved for a telecommunication artery.^{[citation needed]}

The line has a surface area of 16 km² (6.2 sq mi) – in comparisonCharles de Gaulle Airport occupies 32 km² (12 sq mi) – with an average width of 40 m (130 ft).^{[citation needed]} Platforms are 13 m (43 ft) wide, with a space between track centres of 4.2 m (14 ft). The line was designed for a nominal speed of 300 km/h (190 mph), with a minimum radius curve of 4,000 m (13,100 ft) – although seven curves were made to a smaller radius, but no less than 3,200 m or 10,500 ft.^{[citation needed]}

In total, the line comprises 847 km (526 mi) of track. This is formed by UIC 60 (60.3 kg/m [40.5 lb/ft]) rails placed in 288 m (945 ft) lengths, welded in place (with certain segmented sections). The 2.41 m (7 ft 11 in) concretesleepers are formed of two blocks of concrete tied together by a metal strut. There are 1660 sleepers per kilometre.

Traction power is supplied by eightEDF substations at25 kV AC, 50 Hz. Thecatenary is fed by an inverted phase "feeder" cable, which is equivalent to a 50 kV supply and reinforces the available power, enabling a single trainset to draw up to 14 MW.^{[citation needed]}

Signalling relies on high-frequency track circuits that transmits signals directly to the driver's console, known asTransmission Voie-Machine (TVM). Drivers are unable accurately identify traditional track-side railway signals positioned. While there are lineside marker boards indicating the limits of each block section, there no traditional signals as such.^{[citation needed]} The TVM system is set to be replaced by the newerEuropean Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).^[12][13]

The highest point on the line is 489 m (1,604 ft) above sea level, near the town of Liernais, 55.5 km (34.5 mi) north of Gare du Creusot. This is near the range dividing the Seine and Loire river valleys, and not far from the Rhône river valley.^{[citation needed]}

The LGV Sud-Est serves the following stations:

• Le Creusot
• Mâcon-Loché
• Lyon Part-Dieu

Le-Creusot and Mâcon-Loché are basic stations situated away from built-up areas. They have four tracks, with the two central tracks being reserved for through trains, and the side tracks serving stopping trains on two side platforms.

LGV Sud-Est, akin to other early French high-speed lines, was financed mainly bydebt held by SNCF.^[16] The decision to proceed with these early LGVs, and the order in which they were constructed, was heavily influenced by evaluations of their profitability, not only in pure financial terms but also the estimated social benefits. Expectations for LGV Sud Est had included a minimum 12 percent financial rate of return; this was exceeded as a result of the line's high rate of usage, both in terms of traffic and revenue generation.^[16] The achieved financial rates of return, which have been estimated to have been between 15 percent and 30 percent per year in socioeconomic terms, permitted the LGV to be fullyamortised by the end of 1993 after 12 years of operational use; unlike several of France's later LGVs, nosubsidies were used. The financial success of LGV Sud Est encouraged the French government commit further large financial contributions towards the construction of additional high-speed lines.^[17][18][7]

During the mid-to-late 1990s, the track of the LGV Sud-Est was renewed at a cost of FRF 2 billion,^[14] or about €300 million. Maintenance and renewal work is typically performed at night wherever possible to impact a minimal amount of traffic. Between 2020 and 2023, a comprehensive modernisation of the line was performed at a cost of 300 million euros; it was part of a wider programme of works aimed at increasing both traffic and regularity on key parts of France's LGV network.^[3][19]

• TGV

• Liesel, Henn; Sloan, Keith; Douglas, Neil (4 October 2013)."European case study on the Financing of High Speed Rail"(PDF). Brisbane, Australia: Australasian Transport Research Forum 2013 Proceedings.

• High-speed rail lines site (in French)

• High-speed railway lines in France
• Railway lines opened in 1981
• Railway lines opened in 1983

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