Air France and Veolia in rail alliance talks

The French airline company Air France has been holding talks with the rail firm Veolia with a view to providing high-speed travel by train as well as flights. It has been speculated that such a partnership would allow the airline to cut fuel costs by transferring some of its services onto trains. Air France confirmed it had been having discussions on this matter.
Under the proposal it is reported that Veolia would be running trains under the Air France brand from the airline's hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to destinations across Europe. As a combined effort of the two companies it is likely to concentrate on international travel because the European Union is planning to free up the market for international rail passengers in 2010.