French railway news
News about railway, metro and tram infrastructure, operations, policy, projects and the supply industry in France, from Railway Gazette International.
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NewsCSEE commissions its first Argos digital interlocking
FRANCE: A consortium led by MerMec subsidiary Compagnie des Signaux, working with Eiffage Energie Systemes and Systra, has commisioned its first Argos digital interlocking at the Reding Saverne pilot site in the Grand Est region. The Argos ‘innovation partnership’ programme launched by infrastructure manager SNCF Réseau in ...
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NewsLyon – Bordeaux link leads SNCF’s Ouigo expansion drive
FRANCE: National operator SNCF has unveiled a further expansion of its Ouigo low-cost passenger operation, including a service linking Lyon with Bordeaux.
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NewsConstruction of Dunkerque rail-road transhipment terminal gets underway
FRANCE: Modalis Group and Dunkerque-Port have laid the foundation stone for the €25m Western Port rail-road transhipment terminal.
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NewsEcoTrain launched to target very light rail opportunities in France and Belgium
FRANCE: Dynamic testing of a lightweight trainset for secondary lines is underway follwing the unveiling of the EcoTrain.
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NewsParis metro fleet renewal reaches milestone as first MF19 trainset enters traffic
FRANCE: The first of up to 410 next-generation trainsets worth €3bn has entered service on Paris metro Line 10. Jérémie Anne reports.
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NewsGemini Trains still hopes to exploit Channel Tunnel capacity
EUROPE: Gemini Trains still has ambitions to launch train services between the UK and continental Europe, despite the rejection of its application for depot access rights needed to enable it to launch services from London to Paris, Brussels and eventually Köln.
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NewsCastex predicts ‘the mother of all battles’ to fund French rail infrastructure as he takes over at SNCF
FRANCE: Former Prime Minister and RATP Chief Executive Jean Castex promised to ‘fix the foundations’ of SNCF as he was confirmed in the role of President of the national railway holding group.
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NewsBranson promises ‘Virgin magic’ to shake-up cross-Channel train services ‘for good’
EUROPE: Virgin Group has set out more details of its planned Channel Tunnel high speed train services and its funding partners, with founder Sir Richard Branson saying ’it’s time to end this 30-year monopoly and bring some Virgin magic to the cross-Channel route’.
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NewsLille orders automated light metro trains
FRANCE: Métropole Européenne de Lille has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to supply 57 rubber-tyred automated light metro trainsets for use on Line 2.
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NewsEurostar orders Celestia double-deck high speed trains
EUROPE: Eurostar has announced a €1·4bn order for 30 Alstom Avelia Horizon double-deck high speed trainsets, with options for 20 more.
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NewsSNCF Voyageurs wins Région Sud train operating contract
FRANCE: Région Sud has selected SNCF Voyageurs for the contract to operate the Lot 3 package of Zou! branded regional passenger train services.
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NewsRATP Dev selected for Normandie passenger train operating contract
FRANCE: The Normandie région has selected RATP Dev as preferred bidder for a contract to operate its first tendered package of regional passenger train services.
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NewsGemini selects high speed train supplier for planned Uber-branded Eurostar competitor
EUROPE: Aspiring Channel Tunnel high speed train operator Gemini Trains has selected Siemens Mobility Velaro Novo trainsets for its proposed services from London to Paris, Brussels and Köln.
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NewsParis to Wien and Berlin night trains to end after French government withdraws subsidy
EUROPE: The Paris – Wien and Paris – Berlin sleeper train services are to end with the December 14 2025 timetable change, following the French Ministry of Transport’s decision to withdraw funding for their operation.
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NewsPortalp Group launches dedicated rail business
FRANCE: The Portalp Group has formed Portalp Railway as a legal entity bringing together its platform screen door, guided transport systems and rail-sector access control and metalwork activities.
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Metro Report InternationalRéunion Express interurban light rail plan revived
FRANCE: The overseas territory of La Réunion and its five municipalities have signed a ‘partnership roadmap’ for revival of the Réunion Express interurban light rail project along with bus and road improvements designed to reduce dependency on private cars and cut carbon emissions.
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Metro Report InternationalSiemens to convert Paris metro Line 13 to driverless operation
FRANCE: Paris metro operator RATP has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to convert Line 13 to unattended driverless operation.
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NewsPost-Brexit reform of Channel Tunnel regulations agreed
EUROPE: The UK and France have signed the last of four agreements to harmonise technical and safety rules and establish long-term governance arrangements for the Channel Tunnel following the UK’s departure from the EU.
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NewsVirgin sets out details of plans to launch Channel Tunnel train services in 2030
EUROPE: Virgin has set out details of its plans to launch high speed train services through the Channel Tunnel, and says it is ready to confirm an order for Alstom trainsets which would enable the start of services from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam during 2030.
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NewsLiséa begins construction of €200m Marcheprime train maintenance centre
FRANCE: LGV Sud Europe Atlantique infrastructure concessionaire Liséa has begun construction of a train maintenance centre at Marcheprime as part of plans to enable more services to operate on the Paris – Bordeaux route.