Testing has begun around Poitiers on the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique (LGV SEA) high-speed railway.
LISEA, the concessionaire awarded the contract to deliver and manage the new line, has begun testing on the railway, which is due to welcome its first passengers in July 2017.
The LGV SEA is expected to transport almost 20 million passengers a year and will cut journey times between Paris and Bordeaux from three hours to just over two hours.
The project has involved the laying of 302 kilometres of new railway and 40 kilometres of connecting lines.
