SNCF has placed an order for 100 new high-speed trains with Alstom, currently being bought by Siemens. A contract estimated at 3 billion euros.
SNCF's board of directors has approved the purchase of 100 fifth-generation high-speed trains from Alstom, representing nearly 3 billion euros. Guillaume Pepy, Chairman of the Management Board of the public transport group, described this order as "historic" since it was "the largest TGV order ever placed in France" enabling "4,000 jobs to be maintained for 10 years".
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This new generation of double-decker TGVs is the result of more than 1,000 technological innovations and 50 registered patents. Parts produced by Alstom are standardized to the maximum significantly improve production cost. More flexibility is also in order: "depending on the season, for example, we can change the number of seats in first and second classes in less than half a day," says Rachel Picard, General Manager of SNCF Travel. Up to 20% more passengers can be welcomed thanks to these facilities. However, the speed will remain unchanged at 320 km/h.
The cost of a train will drop from 31 to 25 million euros for a 20% reduction, while its electricity consumption will decrease by 20% and its maintenance costs by 30%.
The first "TGVs of the future" should be operational as early as 2023.
