Study to decide future of new French stations

The EU has agreed to fund a study to see if a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme can support the design, construction and operation of two new railway stations in France.

The stations in Nîmes and Montpellier will increase capacity and reduce travel times on the Mediterranean high-speed line.

Completion of the Nîmes -Montpellier section will allow a continuous high-speed service between France and Spain.

The legal, technical and financial studies supported by the project will be used to find the best model of involving the private sector as a third party in the overall task of building, funding, maintaining and managing the two new stations.

The project is set to be completed by the end of 2014.