French railway news – Page 2
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Metro Report InternationalAlstom wins contract to renew pioneering automated metro line
FRANCE: As part of an ongoing renewal of the city’s metro network, Lyon’s Line D is to be resignalled and re-equipped under a €300m agreement announced by Alstom.
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Metro Report InternationalFirst TBB tram for Brest’s Line B project unveiled
FRANCE: The first of eight Citadis TBB trams ordered for the future Brest Line B is to be delivered during August.
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Metro Report InternationalMonaco metro to be a showcase for relieving urban congestion
MONACO: The principality has appointed Systra to provide technical assistance to support the development of a express metro line to provide a cross-border link from France.
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NewsDunkerque rail freight terminal aims to get ferry traffic onto trains
FRANCE: Dunkerque-Port has selected Modalis Group to operate a rail-road transhipment terminal which is being built to encourage modal shift from road to rail.
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NewsBourgogne-Franche-Comté orders Coradia Polyvalent trains
FRANCE: The Bourgogne-Franche-Comté région has ordered 14 Coradia Polyvalent trainsets from a CAF-Alstom consortium.
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Metro Report InternationalCAF wins Grenoble tram order
FRANCE: Grenoble area transport body SMMAG has awarded CAF a contract to supply 38 Urbos trams with an option for up nine more.
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NewsTraffic management challenge further delays Paris Line E extension
FRANCE: SNCF Réseau and Alstom have agreed to pause work to equip the western end of Paris RER Line E with the ATS+ traffic management tool, further delaying through services onto the corridor westwards to Mantes-la-Jolie.
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NewsADIF to manage rehabilitation of cross-border tunnel between France and Spain
EUROPE: Spanish infrastructure manager ADIF is to take responsibility for reconstruction of the Somport tunnel between Spain and France following agreement with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine région.
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NewsHigh speed train operator Velvet aims to offer simplicity, delight and innovation
FRANCE: New entrant Proxima has unveiled Velvet as the brand name for its future open access high speed train services in France.
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NewsProductivity trumps sustainability for business travellers
EUROPE: The ability to use a train as a rolling office space is the key factor driving business customers to pick rail over other modes when they travel for work, according to a survey commissioned by Amex GBT.
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NewsMore RER NG trainsets ordered for Paris Line D
FRANCE: Alstom is to supply a further 96 RER NG trainsets for use on Paris Line D. The option for 96 trains was confirmed on June 23, bringing the total number of RER NG orders to 262.
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NewsDirectTrainS demonstrates Dynamic Coupling technology
FRANCE: Start-up DirectTrainS reports the successful completion of the first field tests with its Dynamic Coupling system, designed to enable trains to join and split while moving.
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NewsSBB Cargo International starts running via France
FRANCE: Having obtained its own safety certification for France, the Swiss national operator’s SBB Cargo France subsidiary has gained the ability to reroute trains avoid congestion and disruption on the Rhine-Alpine corridor through Germany.
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NewsTrains return to ‘the Queen of the Pyrénées’ with plans for hydrogen traction
FRANCE: The 36 km branch from Montréjeau-Gourdan-Polignan to Bagnères-de-Luchon in the southwest of the country reopened for passenger services on June 22 after an 11 year closure.
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In depthWorld Speed Survey 2025: China still ahead as Whoosh joins the club
Railway Gazette International’s biennial survey of the world’s fastest scheduled passenger trains finds that no less than seven countries now run trains at more than 300 km/h, but China is still the global frontrunner in the speed stakes. Jeremy Hartill investigates.
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NewsFerry company launches rail motorway
FRANCE: Brittany Ferries has launched its ‘rail motorway’ service carrying unaccompanied lorry trailers 970 km between the port of Cherbourg and the European Freight Centre at Bayonne-Mouguerre near the Spanish border. The ferry company has acquired 47 Modalohr double-pocket wagons at a cost of €17m, initially ...
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NewsEurostar plans direct trains from London to Frankfurt and Genève
EUROPE: Eurostar has announced plans to offer direct London – Frankfurt, London – Genève and Amsterdam – Brussels – Genève services once new trains are delivered in the early 2030s.
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NewsTransdev prepares to launch Marseille – Nice services
FRANCE: Transdev has unveiled the first of 16 Alstom Omneo Premium electric multiple-units it has ordered for use on Marseille – Nice services which it will operate from June 29 under a contract awarded by the Sud-Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur région.
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In depthFreight: Satellite technology seeks to add value in telematics
French private freight operator Europorte has joined forces with IoT and satellite technology specialists to launch a comprehensive telematics platform to monitor freight train operations. Chairman Raphaël Doutrebente explains Track Value to Nick Kingsley.
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News‘More and better trains’ to be provided under first Bourgogne-Franche-Comté operating contract
FRANCE: National operator SNCF Voyageurs has been awarded the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté région’s first tendered contract to operate regional passenger train services. The région began developing a strategy for tendering the Mobigo branded regional services in 2021. The first package covers Bourgogne Ouest Nivernais services, including Dijon – ...