Le Train will launch rail service in France

The French company Le Train has signed a contract with the Spanish company Talgo for the new high-speed trains (HS).

Originally, Le Train had hoped that SNCF would sell many of its retired TGVs, which SNCF had no interest in. If TGVs are available, Le Train could start in 2024.

The contract has been signed with LE TRAIN @tweet It adapts to the French market for the future development of high-speed trains and relies on the leading Avril high-speed platform.

More info: https://t.co/1CboHLykyJ pic.twitter.com/clpRhcBZPd

—Talgo (TalgoGroup) January 23, 2023

But the SNCF has not yet made a decision on the train order. We first reported this news in May 2021 – see tweet from EU rail expert John Worth.

Wisely, perhaps, Le Train intends to serve the “Nuvelle-Aquitaine” region, rather than compete directly with the SNCF in the last heart of Paris.

Le Figaro explained that the first Talco trains should be delivered in 2025. The train hopes to eventually carry three million passengers on 50 trains per day in “new comfort and a new customer experience.”

Three lines will be in operation, two of which will be faster than existing SNCF services. These are Bordeaux Nantes in less than 3 hours via Tours, Bordeaux Rennes in 3:30 and Bordeaux Angoulême in just 34 minutes via Tours.

Train fares will be lower than SNCF TGV fares, but not post-Ouigo fares.

It remains to be seen how SNCF will react.