A first order for 40 trains had been signed with SNCF in September 2013, and 15 additional options were exercised in 2017.
Alstom
2 min to read
A first order for 40 trains had been signed with SNCF in September 2013, and 15 additional options were exercised in 2017.
Alstom
Alstom will supply 12 Avelia Euroduplex trains to SNCF Mobilités for the sum of approximately $373 million. The order is in addition to the one for 55 trains currently being delivered. The 12 trains will enter service in 2021 and 2022 and replace older trains, some of which are over 30 years old.
A first order for 40 trains had been signed with SNCF in September 2013, and 15 additional options were exercised in 2017. To date, 41 trains have been delivered, with the first ones entering commercial service on 11 December 2016 between Paris and Bordeaux.
Ad Loading...
The Avelia Euroduplex trains have higher capacity, with 556 seats compared to 509 for previous generations.
Alstom
The Av elia Euroduplex trains have higher capacity, with 556 seats compared to 509 for previous generations. Alstom has placed the passenger at the heart of the development of this material by proposing a new concept for more comfortable, more ergonomic seats with a high level of equipment, including electrical sockets, USB sockets, and reading lamps. Alstom has also developed an innovative system allowing first-class seats to rotate 180° so that passengers always face the direction of travel.
The particularity of the trains for this additional order is that they have been preconfigured to receive a new-generation automatic speed control system meeting the very latest European standards. This train offers greater accessibility for PRM passengers thanks to its increased reception capacity and the incorporation of a door location aid, as well as the evolution of the toilet handles and indicators. The train has also been preconfigured as necessary to allow operators to offer Wi-Fi on board.
Euroduplex belongs to Alstom's Avelia range of high-speed trains. Eight of Alstom's 13 sites in France are involved in its design and manufacture.
The announcement highlights the long-standing partnership between the Class I railroad and the commuter rail system, dating back to Metra's creation in 1983.
Crews completed a significant portion of the testing required before commissioning the new, digital signaling system, which will bring important upgrades that strengthen Red Line service reliability for riders and provide Red Line Operations the ability to route trains more quickly, turn trains around faster, and recover from unplanned disruptions more efficiently, said MBTA officials.
In addition to new projects, progress continues on a multiyear effort to upgrade track, electrical, and signal systems on the Metra Electric Line to accommodate the expansion of service on the South Shore Line.
The Maryland Transit Administration is advancing the nearly $1.4 billion Light Rail Modernization Program, which modernizes the Baltimore Central Light Rail Line from Hunt Valley to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport with new, low-floor vehicles and upgrades to all light rail stations, systems, and maintenance facilities.
The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board recently met for a budget workshop, during which staff outlined the significant service reductions Caltrain could be forced to make without new external funding.
Funding for the purchase of the railcars comes from the nearly $220 million in additional capital dollars Gov. Josh Shapiro allocated in November 2025 to support urgent safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements.
With major events and increased travel expected across the state this summer, the Administration is focused on making sure people have a reliable, affordable alternative to driving so we can reduce congestion, support daily commuters, and keep Massachusetts moving.
