This was not an issue when Clermont-Ferrand was the capital of the Auvergne Region because of the polarisation around the agglomeration in terms of various public services. With the emergence of Lyon as the new regional capital, an important part of local economic activity may turn away from the Clermont pole. Overtime, this could reduce Clermont-Ferrand attractiveness for residents and business, which could reduce the rate of demographic and economic growth. Nestled in the Massif Central Mountains, the area’s transport connections are relatively poor. There is no high speed train (TGV) connection, and there are no plans for one to be developed at present. It presently takes more than three hours to reach Paris by train.