Southwest High-Speed ​​Rail Line: Sébastien Lecornu sets the course, 500 million on the table

This Thursday, May 7th, in Toulouse, Sébastien Lecornu uttered a phrase that resonated like a lock: the high-speed rail project in the Southwest, from Bordeaux to Toulouse and then Bordeaux to Dax, is "now irreversible." The statement was not made lightly. It accompanied the signing of a memorandum of understanding with elected officials from the affected local authorities, who have been on edge in recent months due to the threat of a less generous state investment.

To lend weight to the promise, the Prime Minister's office announced the release of "nearly €500 million" to launch the tendering processes. In the financial equation, the State remains allocated 40% of the budget, the same as local authorities, while the European Union is expected to contribute 20%, an arrangement intended to ensure stability in a period where stability has become a rare commodity.

A check to reassure, a calendar that stretches on.

However, political irreversibility quickly runs up against the walls of reality: budgetary constraints, the lack of a majority in the National Assembly, and the five-year presidential term. The Prime Minister takes responsibility, deeming it "unthinkable" to remain inactive on transportation, surrounded by Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, Françoise Gatel, David Amiel, and Jean Castex to project an image of a united front. On the ground, the opposition remains steadfast, especially environmental associations that demand the modernization of existing lines and contest the impact of the construction project.

And the bill could climb: the Infrastructure Advisory Council suggests a likely increase of around 20%, with the cost estimated at €14 billion in 2020, and a revised timeline, with commissioning around 2035 for Bordeaux-Toulouse and 2042 for Bordeaux-Dax. The message is clear, the train has left the station… but it could take longer than expected to reach its destination.