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Velvet secures operating license for high-speed trains in France

Private rail company Velvet has received its license to operate TGVs in France, aiming to compete with SNCF starting in 2028.

1 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Velvet secures operating license for high-speed trains in France — Archive photoPhoto: Rob Dammers · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

The private rail transport company Velvet has obtained its operating license for high-speed trains in France, a decision officially announced by the Ministry of Transport. This authorization is one of the two keys needed to operate rail transport activities in the country.

Velvet aims to compete with SNCF on several high-speed routes along the west coast, including journeys from Paris to Bordeaux, Paris to Nantes, Paris to Angers, and Paris to Rennes, with operations scheduled to begin in 2028.

The company was founded by a former executive from the main French rail operator and has already ordered 12 cutting-edge trains from Alstom, thereby enhancing its operational capacity.

This development marks an important milestone for Velvet, which seeks to establish itself in the rail transport market by providing services that compete with those of SNCF on key routes.

The license awarded allows Velvet to operate trains on a precise schedule, an essential criterion for attracting passengers and improving service efficiency.

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