French railway news – Page 5
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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.
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Metro Report InternationalNext generation of trams for Paris T1 unveiled
FRANCE: Transport authority Ile-de-France-Mobilités, operator RATP and Alstom have unveiled the first of the TW20 trams being supplied as part of a major programme to modernise and increase capacity on the busy T1 route across northern Paris. The 17 km route through the capital’s suburbs from ...
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NewsEckwersheim TGV derailment verdict announced
FRANCE: On October 10 the Paris criminal court announced its verdict on the fatal high speed derailment of a TGV test train on November 14 2015 near Eckwersheim at the eastern end of LGV Est-Européenne.
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NewsParis CDG Express airport train delayed to 2027
FRANCE: The project for a dedicated non-stop rail service between central Paris and Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport has been postponed again.
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NewsProxima orders high speed trains for French open access services
FRANCE: High speed rail start-up Proxima has signed a €850m firm order for Alstom to supply 12 Avelia Horizon double-deck high-speed trains for its planned open access services between Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes, Angers and Paris.
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NewsFrench railway enhancements needed to support European freight modal shift
EUROPE: Combined transport company Hupac says railways in eastern France need to be enhanced to ensure the long-term reliability of north-south European freight services by offering an alternative to routes through Germany. Following three years of preparation, SBB Cargo International, Captrain France, DB InfraGo and SNCF ...
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NewsTeam France Ferroviaire aims to boost rail exports
INNOTRANS: French rail industry association Fédération des Industries Ferroviaires and government export promotion body Business France have signed a Team France Ferroviaire agreement to share knowledge to boost overseas sales. Business France will help potential exporters understand foreign markets, their specific requirements and the best way ...
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NewsParis – Berlin direct train to launch in December
EUROPE: Plans for the launch of a daily direct ICE train service between Paris and Berlin have been presented by SNCF TGV-Intercités CEO Alain Krakovitch and DB Personenverkehr CEO Michael Peterson at InnoTrans. Booking is to open on October 16 and the service will begin on ...