A French rail startup named Velvet has obtained an operating license to introduce high-speed train services connecting major cities along the Atlantic coast, starting with Paris. This marks the first time an independent company in France has been granted such a license. The approval came from the French transport ministry on Tuesday, allowing Velvet to begin planning its services, which are expected to launch in 2028. The company aims to address increasing travel demand in the region and will offer direct routes between Paris and cities like Angers, Nantes, Rennes, and Bordeaux, with average journey times of about two hours. However, services will only begin after final safety certification from France’s rail regulatory body. Velvet was founded by Rachel Picard, a former director of the national rail company SNCF, and Tim Jackson, founder of another rail firm, Alpha Trains. The company is currently backed by Antin Infrastructure Partners, a major investment fund. In September 2024, Velvet placed an order for 12 high-speed double-decker trains, known as “Avelia Horizon,” manufactured by Alstom, one of France’s leading train producers. The first of these trains was officially named in April at an Alstom plant in La Rochelle. Passenger compartments for the trains are now being built at the same facility, and track testing is expected to start in 2026. According to Velvet’s website, securing the operating license is a crucial milestone in its journey toward launching commercial services by 2028. This step allows the company to finalize its operational plans and continue expanding its capabilities. Meanwhile, developments are also underway in the UK, where construction of the first high-speed platforms at Old Oak Common station has been completed. These six new platforms, each 450 meters long, are part of the High Speed 2 (HS2) project, which aims to expand high-speed rail across the country. Old Oak Common is set to become the UK’s busiest and most connected railway station, with a total of 14 platforms. Six of these will be dedicated to high-speed services, while the other eight will serve conventional rail lines, including the Elizabeth line, the Great Western Main Line, and the Heathrow Express. The platforms were officially unveiled as part of the HS2 expansion on 13 August, signaling progress in the UK’s efforts to modernize its rail infrastructure.