David Haydock

1 month ago | railjournal.com | David Haydock

Urbos LRVs have been ordered for Line 2, which will open in 2028. TOURAINE Transport Association (SMT), which oversees public transport in the French city of Tours, has awarded CAF a contract to supply 19 Urbos LRVs for the city’s second light rail line. The 42m-long Urbos LRVs will each have capacity for 280 passengers. They will be deployed on the 12.5km Line 2, which is scheduled to open in 2028.

1 month ago | railjournal.com | David Haydock

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) and manufacturer Alstom have unveiled the interior of the TGV M, the fifth generation of the TGV high-speed train family, which SNCF now expects to put into service in early 2026. Five pre-series trains are currently undergoing testing while four series trains have been delivered and will shortly begin endurance testing.

1 month ago | railjournal.com | David Haydock

EUROTUNNEL and London St Pancras Highspeed, formerly HS1 Ltd, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote the growth of rail traffic between London and major European cities. The MoU covers optimising connections between infrastructure networks, coordinating and developing train paths, and offering services to new destinations.

2 months ago | railjournal.com | David Haydock

THE French transport ministry has published a tender notice seeking bids to supply new locomotives and coaches for the overnight trains that form part of the TET network of long-distance services funded by the government. TET services are currently operated by French National Railways (SNCF) but will in due course be put out to tender. The new overnight fleet will be leased to the eventual operator or operators for a period of 15 years. The project is expected to cost up to €2.33bn.

2 months ago | railjournal.com | David Haydock

FRENCH transport minister, Philippe Tabarot, says the government will shortly confirm an order for 180 new coaches and 30 new locomotives for overnight trains. This will be the first new sleeper stock that France has purchased in 45 years. The new fleet will replace around 120 sleeper coaches that are around 40 years old and are used to operate France’s eight existing overnight routes, all of which run from Paris.