FRENCH Minister of Transport Dominique Perben gave his approval on April 17 to the draft alignment for the Tours - Angoul?me section of TGV Sud-Atlantique.The move marks the end of formal consultation for the 181?km route forming the northern half of the k5bn Tours - Bordeaux high speed line for which RFF invited expressions of interest last month (RG 4.07 p184). The ministry has instructed RFF to initiate procedures so that the enquiry leading to the D?claration d’Utilit? Publique for the Tours - Angoul?me section can start later this year.Contracts to build the line using the PPP formula are due to be signed in 2008 with a view to completion by 2016, when TGVs will link Bordeaux with Paris in 2 h 10 min.n

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