THE Grand Est region of France has ordered 16 six-car Régiolis bi-mode trains from CAF for €235m, which by 2030 will replace RRR push-pull sets hauled by class BB 22200 locomotives on the Regional Metropolitan Express Service (Serm) that runs from Saverne to Strasbourg and Sélestat.
The new trains will be 100m long and will each have total of 355 seats compared with 265 in the RRR trains they will replace. Grand Est has recently spent €11.7m on work to extend the service life of its RRR fleet.
The region has ordered more bi-mode diesel and electric trains from CAF despite the Saverne - Strasbourg - Sélestat line being entirely electrified. Grand Est has already purchased 15 identical class B 83500 multiple-units, which as well as reducing the acquisition cost will enable a saving in maintenance costs of €130m over 40 years.
The choice of bi-mode trains will also enable the new fleet to operate throughout the Grand Est regional network, rather than being confined to electrified lines. In addition, the CAF plant which undertakes Régiolis production is located at Reichshoffen in the Grand Est region.
CAF acquired Reichshoffen, the Coradia Polyvalent or Régiolis platform and its order backlog from Alstom in 2022. Divestment of the Coradia Polyvalent was a condition set by the European Commission (EC) when it approved the acquisition of Bombardier by Alstom in 2020.
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