ðɪ ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən wʌz mˌeɪd ɪnðə hˈoʊp ðˌæɾə hˈaɪ spˈiːd sˈɜːvɪs kʊd kənˈɛkt ðə tˈuː stˈeɪʃənz, ænd wʌz ɐnˈaʊnst æɾə sˈɛɹᵻməni hˈɛdᵻd baɪ klˈɔːd sˈoʊlɑːɹd, dᵻɹˈɛktɚ dʒˈɛnɚɹəl ʌv ˌɛsˌɛnsˌiːˈɛf.
The association was made in the hope that a high speed service could connect the two stations, and was announced at a ceremony headed by Claude Solard, Director General of SNCF.