FRENCH National Railways’ (SNCF) passenger business SNCF Voyageurs has ordered an additional 22 Oxygène trains from CAF for €400m, which will operate TET inter-city services on the Bordeaux - Marseille main line.
SNCF Voyageurs ordered 28 Oxigène trains for Paris - Limoges - Toulouse and Paris - Clermont-Ferrand TET services in 2019. The contract includes an option for up to 75 more trains.
The new Oxigène fleet is being financed by the French government, which funds the TET network of medium and long-distance services to cities that are not on the French high-speed network.
Each dual-voltage Oxygène EMU has 420 seats, comprising 317 in second class and 103 in first class. The trains are equipped with LED reading lights, power sockets, USB ports, and high-speed Wi-Fi.
There is space for bicycles as well as ample luggage room, and each train features a dedicated catering area.
CAF says that the 22 additional trains will be built entirely at its Reichshoffen plant in eastern France, where most of the 28-strong initial order is already in production. The new order represents a significant increase in the workload for Reichshoffen through to 2029.
While series production takes place at Reichshoffen and the CAF plant at Beasain in northern Spain, testing of the Oxigène is underway at the Velim test track in the Czech Republic.
Approval testing is due to start on the French rail network in autumn next year, and is expected to take several months to complete. CAF says that from 2026 onwards Oxygène trains will undergo testing in real-world conditions on the Paris - Clermont-Ferrand and Paris - Limoges - Toulouse lines.
Successful completion of the testing programme should enable CAF to obtain the Authorisation to Place on the Market (Apom) for the new Oxigène fleet, enabling it to enter passenger service.
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