Velvet, a French rail operator startup, secured its Railway Undertaking licence from France’s Directorate-General for Infrastructure, Transport & Mobility on September 1, 2026. This approval enables Velvet to advance efforts to begin high speed rail services between Paris and western France by 2028.
The licence authorizes Velvet to initiate commercial operations groundwork such as applying for train paths, organizing infrastructure access, and developing operational and safety procedures. These preparations bring Velvet closer to testing and running its services across the targeted routes.
Velvet’s Rolling Stock and Planned Routes
The company has ordered 12 Alstom Avelia Horizon train sets built on the same platform as SNCF’s forthcoming
TGV M trains. The first of these train sets was unveiled in April 2026 at Alstom’s La Rochelle facility and is undergoing static testing. Velvet intends to operate services connecting Paris with Bordeaux, Nantes, Angers, and Rennes once operations commence.
Corporate Background and Investment
Founded in 2022 by former SNCF Voyages director Rachel Picard and Alpha Trains founder Tim Jackson, Velvet plans to invest approximately €1 billion in its initial development phase. The project has financial backing from Antin Infrastructure Partners and aims to address unmet demand on western France rail corridors currently served by SNCF.
Competitive Market and Passenger Impact
Velvet enters a liberalized French domestic passenger rail
market alongside competitors Kevin Speed and Le Train. Kevin Speed has postponed its launch to 2030 due to funding and industrial challenges, while Le Train is waiting for French certification for its Talgo Avril trains despite holding an operating licence since 2022.
If Velvet initiates service as scheduled in 2028, its fleet is projected to add around 10 million seats annually on western routes, potentially expanding travel options for passengers. The company continues to prioritize the development of its Safety Management System and operating procedures while working toward acquiring a Single Safety Certificate.
According to company leadership, safety remains a
central consideration in all design and operational decisions to assure passenger confidence once services start.
