New Aquitaine by Train: A 7-Day Car-Free Itinerary
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Published on 7/3/27
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On July 1, 2025, the the very first independent French high-speed rail company has revealed its official name: Velvet. A new milestone for this ambitious rail project, known since June 2024 by the temporary name of Proxima Project.
With its fir-green and lilac-colored trains, Velvet intends to shake up the rail industry as early as 2028. According to the founders, the goal is not to compete directly with the SNCF but to complement it. The objective is clear: provide 10 million additional seats per year to meet rapidly growing demand and address the current supply constraints.
By making it easier to access train service on heavily traveled routes (the first lines will be launched between Paris, Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes, and Angers), this new offering could thus help strengthen the a modal shift from cars to rail. A much-needed boost in the context of the current climate emergency? We'll tell you more.
What is Velvet? Velvet is the first private and independent rail company to enter the high-speed rail market in France. Its commercial launch is scheduled for 2028.
Which routes will Velvet serve? At launch: Paris–Bordeaux, Paris–Nantes, Paris–Rennes, and > Paris–Angers, departing from Paris-Montparnasse.
Is Velvet a subsidiary of the SNCF? No. Velvet is a 100% independent company founded by Rachel Picard (formerly of SNCF Mobilités) and Timothy Jackson.
How much will Velvet tickets cost? The exact prices are not yet known. The co-founder said that Velvet will be neither a low-cost nor a high-end service, but rather one “tailored to everyone.”
🔔 Update as of September 2026: Velvet obtained its rail carrier license on September 1, 2026, allowing it to order train paths from SNCF Réseau. It still needs to obtain the Single Safety Certificate before beginning commercial service, which is still scheduled for the summer of 2028.
To understand the origins of Velvet (which had previously been codenamed “Project Proxima”), we need to go back a few years. Since 1981, one player has reigned supreme in the high-speed rail sector in France: the SNCF. And the TGV is, in a way, his brainchild. For a long time, it was simply impossible for another company to offer a competing service on our high-speed lines.
But in 2018, a major turning point began with the passage of the law establishing a new rail pact, which formalizes opening up to competition long-distance trains. Since then, the landscape of the high-speed train* in France is diversifying.
*Please note that "TGV" is a registered trademark of SNCF. In principle, this acronym cannot be used to refer to high-speed trains operated by other companies. That is why, for example, Trenitalia’s high-speed trains are called “Frecciarossa” and Deutsche Bahn’s are called “ICE.”
After Trenitalia and its Frecciarossa trains on the lines Paris–Lyon and Paris-Marseille, so a new milestone has been reached with Velvet, France's first independent railroad company to enter the high-speed rail market.
“The opening up to competition is progressing in France, and Velvet is a concrete example of this, as is the launch yesterday of the first competitive regional TER line between Marseille, Toulon, and Nice. I have always championed this initiative, first as Vice President of the PACA Region, and now as Minister of Transportation. Faced with rapidly growing demand for rail travel, It helps expand the product lineup, optimize pricing, and offer a wide variety of travel experiences — “a key issue for improving the quality of service for users, which is the guiding principle of my work.” - Philippe Tabarot - Minister of Transportation
Behind this project to private high-speed train and Made in France, two well-known figures in the industry: Rachel Picard, former director of SNCF Mobilités, and Timothy Jackson, a transportation entrepreneur, who met three years ago. On June 6, 2024, the general public first heard about Proxima in connection with a €1 billion fundraising round, €850 million of which was earmarked for ordering 12 trainsets Avelia Horizon from Alstom. The remainder will fund operations and the construction of a maintenance facility in Marcheprime (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), managed in partnership with Alstom and Lisea. Maintenance will thus be provided for 15 years (a major difference from SNCF Passenger, which handles the maintenance of its trains itself).
The front end of the future high-speed train - © Velvet
Their goal? To address a growing tension: 15% of potential travelers are already being turned away due to a lack of space, and that percentage could rise to 25% by 2030! VelVet is therefore launching a service designed to both relieve congestion on existing lines and make our commutes more eco-friendly (with, we hope, many new travelers switching from cars and planes to trains).
When it comes to equipment, Velvet doesn't do things halfway. The 12 trains ordered from Alstom are the same as those of the future TGV M (Avelia Horizon trains): double-decker, modular, energy-efficient trains that are brighter (thanks to larger windows) and more spacious. But beyond the technology, it’s the customer experience which is at the heart of the project.
When it came to design, the teams broadened their horizons beyond the rail industry, drawing inspiration from a variety of sectors: the hotel industry for hospitality, theater, and aviation for seat comfort… But above all, the traveler was placed at the center of every stage of the design process: "The Velvet method involved surveying users to ask them directly for their opinions.", says Julien Feré, spokesperson for Proxima. The result is a promise in three words: enjoyment, simplicity, and novelty.
Goodbye Proxima, welcome Velvet. With its slanted letters, which evoke the train's aerodynamics and motion, Velvet conveys both the speed (velocity), the velvet, and the promise of a a smoother and more personalized travel experience.
© Velvet
With this concept, the company aims to stand out. Julien Feré, a spokesperson for Proxima, explains: “We chose the pine green for speed and technology, and Lilac, a color never before seen in the rail industry, for “care” "and kindness—putting the customer first is at the heart of Velvet's values."
In short, VelVet is designed to be instantly recognizable, both at the station and on the tracks. The trains also incorporate these design elements: a pine-green nose that evokes innovation, and mostly white cars—a smart, eco-friendly choice: the lighter the vehicle, the less it heats up in the sun… so the need for air conditioning is reduced—and a lilac ribbon that flows elegantly like a visual wave when the train is in motion.
The very first Velvet trains unveiled in Belfort - © Velvet
In 12 months, the project went from a dream to reality. After raising funds, ordering the trains, and making design decisions, Production has begun : Passenger cars are being manufactured in La Rochelle; the first motor car is already on display in Belfort; and the foundation stone for the maintenance facility in Marcheprime will soon be laid.
According to Tim Jackson, co-founder of Velvet:
“I’ve never seen a rail project move forward this quickly. We’re working hand in hand with Alstom as a single team.”
And for Alstom, it is both a showcase for its technology and a strategic partnership, as Frédéric Wiscart, president of Alstom France, pointed out:
“VelVet is a state-of-the-art high-speed train designed for comfort and accessibility.”
Press Conference - Velvet Presentation on July 1, 2025, in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine - ©HOURRAIL!
🔔 Update as of April 2026: The Velvet project has reached a new milestone: the very first train has rolled off the assembly line in La Rochelle. This marks a significant step forward ahead of its scheduled entry into service in 2028. Visit our dedicated article to understand what this really means for travelers.
Originally scheduled for 2027, the first commercial flights are now expected to take place in 2028.
Initially, the airline plans to serve only the major Atlantic routes departing from Paris Montparnasse, namely Nantes, Bordeaux, Rennes, and Angers.
As for the onboard experience and pricing, we still know relatively little, although the co-founder recently stated on France Inter that their trains would neither be low-cost nor high-end, with prices tailored to each individual to attract a very broad customer base.
No official announcement has been made yet, but as with any new player looking to make a name for itself, it’s a safe bet that tickets will be available for booking on as many platforms as possible.
As you can see, VelVet could very well be a game-changer for travelers, between Paris and the Atlantic Coast first, and then more broadly. By adding 10 million seats per year where the market is already saturated, this new private operator It checks several boxes: more seats, more comfort, more options… and a real opportunity to speed up the transition to rail travel!
So, of course, we’ll have to wait until 2028 to judge. But with a heat wave pushing temperatures close to 40°C, the idea of a a fast, comfortable, and well-designed train is already great news.
We'll of course keep you updated on the project's progress. In the meantime, you can learn more about www.velvet.fr. So you don't miss any rail news (and to find out When to Book Your First Velvet Ticket), check your email every other Thursday:
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Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
