France Launches High-Speed Rail Expansion to Boost Green Travel

Baasma Wafa  Jadetimes Staff

B. Wafa is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Europe

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Richard Villalon

France has made a significant upgrade of its high-speed rail system, with a goal to lower carbon emissions and enhance links between the country and Europe.

The plan, unveiled by President Emmanuel Macron this week, includes the construction of four new high-speed train lines over the next decade. These routes will link key regional cities like Toulouse, Nice, and Bordeaux more efficiently to Paris, while also improving cross-border routes into Spain, Italy, and Germany.

A template for green transport, France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) system already has one of the world's fastest and most efficient rail systems. The expansion is part of a new effort to get people to leave their short-haul flights behind — a move in step with the European Union's overall green transformation plan.

Environment Minister Christophe Béchu welcomed the project, stating that it would "make low-carbon journeys more accessible and appealing to millions of people." The government also indicated that the project would be financed in part by the new European Green Infrastructure Fund.

Public and environmental response has been broadly favorable. "It's a genuine step toward sustainable mobility," said Camille Dubois, a transport policy analyst in Lyon. "High-speed rail isn't just greener, it's often quicker when you count airport waiting time.

Building the initial segment — between Bordeaux and Toulouse — will start in early 2026 and be finished by 2032. The government predicts the expansion will cut domestic air travel by as much as 20% by the end of the decade.

As France invests in cleaner, quicker public transport, it provides a model for how new infrastructure can drive economic development and environmental ambitions in Europe.