velvet-train

A new high-speed train company launching soon between Paris and the West!

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The Editor

©Velvet

In two years, an independent French railway company could come to compete with SNCF by offering direct trips from Paris to the west of France.

There's still a lot happening in the railway world! On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the Velvet company showcased the first images of its future trains, which are set to roll out by 2028. Initially, these trains will depart from Paris and head to several French cities. This project is expected to compete with the SNCF.

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Une publication partagée par Velvet (@velvet.train)


A company that will serve the West of France

To start off, only four cities on the Atlantic coast will be served by TGV Velvet: Bordeaux, Rennes, Angers, and Nantes. In Paris, departures will take place from Gare Montparnasse. This way, the company that claims to be "the first independent French high-speed train company" aims to "meet the growing demand for travel along the Atlantic coast by providing 10 million additional seats."


Standing out with simplicity

And Velvet is doing everything to stand out from its competitors, starting with a focus on its image. Out with the neutral colors: it's time for dark green trains adorned with a lilac color. « Our trains are made to be seen at the station », says Rachel Picard, CEO of Velvet — alongside Tim Jackson — to France 3. The focus is on simplicity, « saving time », « escaping without leaving everything behind », acting with « this requirement for utility raquo;. As for the rest, the mystery remains unsolved. The price range has not yet been revealed, although the company has mentioned that they are « neither in the low-cost nor in the premium ». 

In June 2024, the Velvet adventure began with a fundraising effort by Antin Infrastructure Partners. By the following September, 12 trains were ordered from Alstom, with production kicking off in July 2025. The first one was "christened" in April 2026. Just two more little years to wait before experiencing Velvet!