French railway news – Page 16
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NewsSlow ERTMS roll-out is hindering French market opening, regulator warns
FRANCE: The limited roll-out of ERTMS is a major obstacle to the opening of the French domestic market to competition, according to rail regulator ART.
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Metro Report InternationalRight and left-hand running as T13 tram-train route opens west of Paris
FRANCE: Ile-de-France tram-train line T13 opened on July 6, running 18·8 km on an orbital route between Saint-Cyr and Saint-Germain-en-Laye RER stations to the west of Paris.
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NewsCross-border links backed as €5·4bn in grants awarded at Connecting Europe Days
A total of €5·4bn in transport investment funding was announced at the Connecting Europe Days in Lyon on June 29. Toma Bačić reports from Lyon.
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Metro Report InternationalWork starts to renovate Paris T1 tramway
FRANCE: A major programme of renewal and renovation has begun on the T1 tramway which runs through the suburbs north of Paris.
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Metro Report InternationalTicketing innovation in Saint-Etienne transport contract
FRANCE: An expansion of tram services and the introduction of contactless open payments are highlights of the new contract for Transdev to continue operating the STAS public transport network in Saint-Etienne.
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Metro Report InternationalLyon metro Line B goes driverless with GoA4 upgrade
FRANCE: Lyon transport authority Sytral Mobilités, operator Keolis and technology supplier Alstom launched Grade of Automation 4 unattended automatic operation of metro Line B on June 25.
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Metro Report InternationalParis Line 14 extensions on course to open in June 2024
FRANCE: Paris transport operator RATP is working towards a simultaneous opening of the Line 14 northern and southern metro extensions in June 2024, the group’s project Manager Stéphane Garreau has confirmed to Metro Report International. The driverless metro line currently runs for ...
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In depthHigh speed: New line plans revisited as Macron promises more
President Macron has promised ‘a decade of the TGV’ in the 2020s, and work is due to start soon on three more high speed lines. Toma Bačić investigates.
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Metro Report InternationalMontpellier orders 60 trams
FRANCE: Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole has selected CAF to supply 60 trams to its local transport operator TaM, with options for 17 more bringing the total value of the order to €223·7m. The seven-section Urbos trams will be assembled at the CAF France plant at Bagnères-de-Bigorre in ...
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NewsMont-Blanc Express trains ordered
EUROPE: Stadler is to supply seven rack-equipped electric multiple-units for Mont-Blanc Express services on the 1 000 mm gauge line between Martigny in Switzerland and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet in France. The two-car EMUs will be equipped for 850 V DC overhead and third rail power supplies. They ...
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NewsCAF close to acquiring Alstom’s Reichshoffen plant
FRANCE: CAF is in the final stages of taking over Alstom’s Reichshoffen rolling stock factory in Alsace, the Spanish company said on June 20. Alstom offered to divest the former De Dietrich plant and the Coradia Polvalent train family produced there in order to obtain European ...
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NewsSunweb and European Sleeper plan holiday trains to the Alps and coast
EUROPE: Dutch package holiday company Sunweb Group and night train start-up European Sleeper have announced a partnership to offer overnight trains from the Netherlands and Belgium to tourist destinations in France. The companies said their aim is to make ‘sustainable and relaxed’ rail travel more attractive ...
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NewsACC M to refurbish trains for French open access start-up Railcoop
Jérémie Anne visits the factory where ACC M is to refurbish diesel multiple-units for use by open access operator Railcoop.
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Metro Report InternationalParis metro Line 12 extension opens after frozen construction technique
FRANCE: An unusual technique using liquid nitrogen has been used during the construction of a 2 km extension of Paris metro Line 12 from Aubervilliers Front Populaire to Aimé Césaire and Mairie d’Aubervilliers.
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NewsConsortium to provide rolling stock options as French passenger market opens
FRANCE: Leasing company Akiem and Banque des Territoires have formed the TerriTrains consortium to offer rolling stock financing and management services to public authorities and train operators as the French passenger market is opened to competition. Akiem said the national government and regions spend more than ...
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In depthFrance: Newcomers still face market entry hurdles
With France’s passenger market finally open to competition, a report from regulatory body ART finds that various barriers still hinder access for new entrants. Jérémie Anne asks ART President Bernard Roman what lessons have been learnt and what lies ahead.
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Metro Report InternationalDisability consultancy undertakes Lyon accessibility audit
FRANCE: Accessibility consultancy Direct Access has expanded its rail work into France through a pilot project with Keolis to audit rail, metro, tram and bus interchanges in Lyon. The consultancy is assessing entrances, wayfinding and arrival and boarding points, and will submit detailed recommendations for improvements ...
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Metro Report InternationalGrand Paris Express elevated stations contract awarded
FRANCE: Société du Grand Paris has awarded Vinci Construction subsidiary Chantiers Modernes Construction an €80·9m contract to build the elevated Palaiseau, Orsay-GIF and CEA-Saint-Aubin stations on the future Line 18 of the automated metro. A consortium of Rougnon, Dalkia and Fouassin has been awarded a €12m ...
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NewsIzy low-cost train services to end
EUROPE: The Izy-branded low cost train service between Paris Nord and Brussels Midi is to end on July 10, Thalys has announced. Launched by Thalys in 2016, Izy services use the conventional line from Paris to Arras and then LGV Nord and Belgium’s LGV1 from Arras ...
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NewsERTMS conference explores rollout strategies and ‘game changer’ enhancements
The EU Agency for Railways’ 2022 ERTMS Conference focused on the technical advances, deployment strategies and political imperatives that will shape deployment over the coming years. Jérémie Anne reports from Valenciennes.