All France articles – Page 2
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News‘Co-operation between historic operators’ sees Ouigo low-cost trains reach Brussels
EUROPE: In what the two incumbents term ‘a co-operation between historic operators’, SNCF and SNCB have launched a low-cost loco-hauled Ouigo service between Paris and Brussels.
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NewsRER NG trains launched on Line D as Paris fleet renewal accelerates
FRANCE: The renewal of the rolling stock fleet used on the RER suburban network around Paris is continuing, with the latest generation RER NG trainsets entering service on Line D in December. The RER NG fleet comprises two subclasses, Z58000 for Line E and Z58500 for ...
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In depthRegional Railways: Technology offers hope of secondary line revival
Around 17 000 km of abandoned or poorly used lines in France and Germany could be revived using small, frequent or on-demand vehicles as part of a decarbonisation drive. Thanks to rapidly progressing technologies with minimal investment and low operating costs, there is an opportunity to tap political support to make them a reality. Reinhard Christeller reports.
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NewsSNCF orders 22 Oxygène trains for Bordeaux – Marseille route
FRANCE: SNCF Voyageurs has awarded CAF a firm order to supply a further 22 Oxygène trainsets for inter-city services between Bordeaux and Marseille. In 2019 the national passenger operator ordered an initial 28 10-car Z26700 trainsets for the Paris – Limoges – Toulouse and Paris – ...
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Rail Business UKUK firm wins rolling stock electronics export orders
EUROPE: British electronic and electro-mechanical component and systems supplier LPA Group has announced three export orders in the rail sector with a total value of £4m. SNCF Voyageurs has ordered bespoke interior LED lighting for retrofitting to regional and inter-city fleets over the next five years. ...
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NewsRegional passenger services in Grand Est stepped up further
FRANCE: The next stage of the Réseau Express Métropolitain Européen programme to increase local passenger services in the area around Strasbourg has been launched.
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NewsFrench night train fleet renewal tender expected
FRANCE: Tenders are to be called in early 2025 for the renewal of SNCF’s night train fleet. The plans were confirmed to local media by Pierre-Christophe Soncarrieu, the deputy director of the transport ministry’s Trains d’Équilibre du Territoire regional trains division responsible for overnight services. The ...
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NewsParis – Berlin direct high speed train service launched
EUROPE: A daily high speed train service has been launched between Paris and Berlin.
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NewsRefurbished Grand Est double-deck EMU unveiled
FRANCE: National operator SNCF Voyageurs has unveiled the first of the Grand Est région’s TER 2N NG double-deck electric multiple-units to undergo mid-life refurbishment as part of the national OPTER programme. SNCF Voyageurs is to refurbish 125 Bombardier Transportation AGC and 41 Alstom TER 2N NG ...
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NewsProxima high speed train order financing in place
FRANCE: Hamburg Commercial Bank has acted as mandated lead arranger for the financing of 12 Alstom Avelia Horizon high speed trains ordered by new market entrant Proxima. A consortium of banks is providing almost €500m compliant with the Loan Market Association’s Green loan criteria towards the ...
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NewsRailpool enters French electric freight loco market
FRANCE: Leasing company Railpool has signed a long-term full-service agreement to supply Regiorail with three Alstom Traxx Universal locomotives with last mile engines, with an option for a further four. Regiorail is the fifth largest rail freight operator in France by market share, leasing 40 locomotives ...
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NewsFrench ERTMS strategy confirmed as Paris – Lyon roll-out progresses
FRANCE: The government has unveiled its plans for rolling out the European Rail Traffic Management System over the next two decades, as four-day blockade was undertaken to complete a key stage in the resignalling of LGV Sud Est between Paris and Lyon.
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NewsFrench regional authority creates rolling stock company
FRANCE: Faced with a shortage of rolling stock ahead of the tending of contracts to operate TER regional passenger services, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes région has opted to create a locally owned company. The company approved in October is to be owned by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes région (80%) and ...
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NewsHexafret and Technis to replace French national freight operator Fret SNCF
FRANCE: Two new companies are to take over the operations and maintenance activities of the national railway’s freight business Fret SNCF on January 1 2025. Transport Minister François Durovray has confirmed plans to break up Fret SNCF which were announced by his predecessor Clément Beaune in ...
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NewsRolling stock engineering business sees opportunities in French rail market opening
FRANCE: The liberalisation of the rail market offers new opportunities for SNCF Voyageurs’ rolling stock maintenance and engineering subsidiary Masteris, according to its CEO Remi Peltier, who told Railway Gazette International that ’we want to be present for these opportunities’. SNCF established Masteris in 2009 to ...
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In depthInterview: ‘No limit’ on the potential of French high speed market
While its planned high speed services linking Bordeaux with Rennes and Nantes are still in gestation, French new entrant Le Train believes it can establish itself as the largest private operator in an increasingly crowded domestic market. CEO Alain Getraud and Deputy Chief Executive Catherine Pihan-Le Bars explain their vision to Nick Kingsley.
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Metro Report InternationalCustom machine to renew Paris metro tracks
FRANCE: Scheuzer is to design a build a custom battery-electric track renewals train for use by contractor TSO on the Paris metro network’s steel wheel and rubber-tyred lines from 2027. The contract signed at InnoTrans will support operator RATP’s plans to make use of technology to ...
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Metro Report InternationalParis: Learning lessons from Line 14
Paris metro operator RATP believes it can use the experience it has gained in managing the migration of train control equipment used on Line 14 from one GoA4 platform to another to help upgrade other automated metros. Jérémie Anne reports.
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Metro Report InternationalCustomised battery locos ordered to haul Paris metro maintenance trains
FRANCE: Paris transport operator RATP has placed its first order with Stadler, covering the supply of 12 custom-designed electric-battery locomotives to haul maintenance and repair trains across the entire metro network from 2027. The order announced on October 21 has been placed as part of a ...
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In depthTrain Control: Paris RER lines switch to NExTEO
SNCF Réseau is committed to installation of the digital NExTEO train control system to increase train throughput on the busiest sections of the heavily used Paris RER network. Jérémie Anne reports.