Impact of French society: towns such as Chartres are becoming "TGV commuter belt"; Brussels - Paris in 90 minutes has increased commuting between the two capitals; likewise Paris - Marseille time greatly reduced recently
Impact of the building of the lines: many years of wrangles over the Lyon-Marseille line
... to propose to her.
The following morning Stiva and Vronsky are at the station to welcome Anna and Vronsky's mother respectively. This is the occasion the first meeting ...