SNCF’s new ‘Botox programme’ to increase TGV services
104 French high-speed trains will be getting a facelift. SNCF Voyageurs and its rolling stock division are launching the ‘Botox Programme’ to optimise the use and lifespan of their existing trains. This will include mid-life or end-of-life...Read more
No trains for days between France and Italy after Alps rock slide
No trains will run between France and Italy until at least Wednesday, states the SNCF. This is due to a significant avalanche in the Maurienne valley in the French Alps, near the border with Italy...Read more
SNCF Voyageurs to operate Nouvelle Aquitaine trains till 2030
With five months to go until a new EU law comes into effect that requires all new rail service contracts to be put out to tender, the Nouvelle Aquitaine region and SNCF Voyageurs signed a...Read more
French ART report confirms post-pandemic rail progress
Over 400 kilometres of rail tracks were taken out of service between 2019 and 2021, according to the annual review by the French Transport Regulation Authority (ART) published this week. However, the intensity of rail...Read more
SNCF hits 3.5 million kilometres travelled on biodiesel
Trains on the Paris-Granville line in Normandy have recently hit a milestone of 3,5 million kilometres covered on B100, a biofuel entirely made from French rapeseed, instead of running on diesel. This makes the tests...Read more
12-billion-euro overhaul of major rail hub in France takes shape
Following Macron’s announcement at the end of November to focus on the creation of the express regional network or ‘Réseau Express Régional’ (RERs) in the 10 largest French metropolises by 2040, studies are beginning to...Read more
SNCF Réseau to install five more installations in effort to reduce wildlife collisions
SNCF Réseau will be deploying five additional so-called Strail Grid installations in France in an ongoing effort to reduce wildlife collisions. The company counted 121 such incidents last year, resulting in 332 hours of delays...Read more
A first in France: Transdev to take over TER Marseille-Nice from SNCF
For the first time in France, the SNCF is set to lose the operation of a TER (Regional Express Train) line. The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region is expected to vote in favour of the bid put...Read more
Grand Est region wants to connect with Germany by rail
The first Régiolis trains for French-German cross-border services were presented to elected representatives in Neustadt an der Weinstraße (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany) in June. The French Grand Est region wants to connect with its German neighbours by...Read more
French regional railway liberalisation: more threat than opportunity?
AnalysisThe liberalisation of the domestic rail market in France is a special case in a country that is very keen to value its historic company. In France, railway competition is still considered as a threat...Read more
SNCF orders 12 hydrogen-electric trains
SNCF Voyageurs has placed an order with Alstom on behalf of four regions for twelve hybrid hydrogen-electric Régiolis trains from the Coradia Polyvalent line. In total, the order announced on April 8 is worth nearly...Read more