the Nîmes and Montpellier bypass

Ever since the Mediterranean High Speed Line was opened in 2001, the current route between these two towns has been highly congested. In these conditions, any plans to increase passenger and freight traffic would be highly difficult to implement.

The creation of the Nîmes and Montpellier Bypass, which will double up the existing Tarascon-Sète line, will allow an increase in the number of trains able to travel along the Languedoc branch by absorbing some of the traffic from the railway network.
 

The Nîmes and Montpellier bypass project has a double goal:

improving fluidity: using a pair of complementary lines will make it possible to offer firm capacity for growth, both for freight and passenger transport
widening the high speed network: the project will create a further link in the French and European network of high speed lines
 

Map of the Nîmes and Montpellier bypass (JPG, 2 MB)
 

The total cost of the project is estimated at €1.4 billion.
 

The work will be implemented as part of a Public Private Partnership. A declaration of intent prior to the implementation of the bypass was signed on 17 June 2008 by the State, the Regional Council for Languedoc-Roussillon, the General Council of Gard, the Montpellier town council, and Réseau Ferré de France.
 

The project was declared a public utility in May 2005.
It is due to be opened in 2013.