Velvet obtains its rail license for passenger transport

The company Velvet is authorized to carry out the activity of a railway undertaking for the transport of passengers. This decision is formalized by an order of August 31, 2026 signed by the Ministry of Transport, published in the Official Journal of the French Republic (JORF No. 0204 of September 2, 2026) under reference NOR TRAT2618041A.

The license is issued in application of Titles I and II of the decree of March 7, 2003 relating to railway undertaking licenses. It authorizes Velvet to provide passenger rail transport services, without however granting by itself the right of access to the railway infrastructure, which remains governed by the regulations applicable in each European Union country.

A precise regulatory framework

The granting of this license is part of the French framework for opening the railway market to competition. The decree of March 7, 2003 sets the conditions for access to the profession of a railway undertaking, particularly regarding financial capacity, insurance coverage, and professional competence.

The validity of the license is conditional upon permanent compliance with the requirements defined in Articles 6 to 9 of this decree. Furthermore, it is subject to a review at the end of the period provided for in Article 11 of the same text, calculated from the date of publication of the order.

Prior financial obligations

Before any railway circulation is carried out under this license, Velvet must satisfy the requirements of the order of May 20, 2003 relating to the minimum amounts of guarantee ceilings. These provisions aim to ensure coverage of risks associated with railway operations.

• Compliance with the minimum guarantee ceiling amounts set by the order of May 20, 2003;
• Maintenance of the conditions of Articles 6 to 9 of the decree of March 7, 2003;
• Review of the license at the end of the period specified in Article 11 of the decree.

A commissioning schedule

The passenger rail transport services provided for by the order must begin no later than September 1, 2028. This timeframe allows Velvet time to prepare its market entry, particularly regarding rolling stock, personnel, and infrastructure access agreements.

The license remains valid as long as the regulatory conditions are met. It constitutes an indispensable preliminary step before any request for train paths is made to the infrastructure manager.

A new step for the railway market

The arrival of Velvet in the passenger rail transport segment illustrates the continued opening of the French market to new operators. For travelers, this license could eventually result in an expanded offering and increased competition on certain routes, subject to obtaining infrastructure access rights and the effective implementation of services by 2028.

Official source: Decree of August 31, 2026, granting a railway undertaking license (NOR TRAT2618041A), published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0204 on September 2, 2026.