The fleet of French high-speed trains is being rejuvenated with the new TGV M series. The first example of the double-decker train has now been presented.
TGV trains have been operating in France since the early 1980s – the abbreviation stands for “train à grande vitesse”. Unlike the ICE trains of Deutsche Bahn, the high-speed trains of the French state railway SNCF run on a separate track network and are considered to be one great commercial success that has reduced domestic flights to a minimum.
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Various series are now in use, but they all consist of two power cars. Between them are eight or ten permanently coupled intermediate cars.
The trains, which can travel at speeds of up to 320 km/h, will be supplemented by new units from 2024, which the manufacturer Alstrom has now presented to the public in La Rochelle in south-west France.
Many advantages for passengers
The special thing about the new TGV M series: The trains can transport more people with less energy, namely up to 740 people have a seat compared to the previous TGVs with 634 seats. Depending on the requirements of the route and the load, seven to nine wagons can be put together. Inside, if required, the first class can also be converted into a second class. Bicycle or luggage rooms can also be removed or added.
Finally, the windows are designed larger. During the presentation, speeches emphasized that the TGV M’s carbon footprint will be the lowest on the market. 97 percent of the train’s components are also recyclable.
SNCF has ordered 100 trains in the domestic version and 15 more for international traffic – an investment of 2.7 billion euros. The first train should be ready for test drives at the end of the year. Scheduled service is planned for 2024.
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