FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) subsidiary
SNCF Passenger has ordered an additional 15 TGV M double-deck high-speed trains
from Alstom for €600m. They are due to be delivered in 2029 and will be
progressively deployed on services to Brussels from major cities in France.
Alstom says that this latest batch of its
Avelia Horizon platform will be equipped to take current at 25kV 50Hz and 15kV
16.7Hz ac, as well as 1.5kV and 3kV dc.
This is the fourth order for the TGV M to
be awarded by SNCF to Alstom, bringing the total on order to 160 trains. An
initial order was placed in July 2018 for 100 trains worth €2.7bn, followed in
August 2022 by a €590m option for 15 four-voltage trains, which SNCF says will
be deployed in Italy.
In October 2025, SNCF Passenger subsidiary
Eurostar announced an order worth €2bn for up to 50 trains, capable of
operating in Britian, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and
Switzerland. This comprises a firm order for 30 trains with an option for 20
more.
With testing on the French national network
underway since June 2023, SNCF Passenger says the TGV M is due to enter service
on domestic routes on July 1. The Avelia Horizon platform has also been ordered
by Moroccan National Railways (ONCF), which is due to receive 18 trains, and
French open-access operator Velvet, which expects to begin testing of the first
of its fleet of 12 later this year.
“These 15 additional
trains that we are investing in with our own resources mark a new stage in our
high-speed development strategy in France and in Europe,” says Alain
Krakovitch, director of the TGV-Intercités business at SNCF Passenger.
