SNCF Passenger, the operating business of French National Railways (SNCF), and Paris regional transport authority Île-de-France Mobility (IdFM) have launched a joint tender for up to 300 double-deck Z2N NG commuter EMUs, to be supplied under a framework contract with a maximum term of 23 years and a value of up to €8bn.

With recent Paris commuter fleet orders costing around €17m per train, the average cost of €26.7m per train represents a significant increase. When approached for comment, an IdFM spokesman told IRJ that the authority is unable to provide further details of a tender that is already in progress.

The framework deal includes firm orders for 52 EMUs worth €1.5bn. The first trains are earmarked for a new service known as Line Y, which will be introduced in 2032 and run on RER Line C from Paris Austerlitz to Dourdan and Saint-Martin d’Étampes.

The first of four options within the framework is for 198 trains worth about €4.1bn, which will mainly be deployed on Line C. The second option covers the supply of additional maintenance and logistical support service and is worth up to €1.2bn. All of these options would be exercised by IdFM.

The third option covers the supply of 50 trains to SNCF, worth €986m, while the final option is for the supply of additional maintenance and logistical support services to SNCF for €245m. Expressions of interest in the framework contract are due to be submitted by March 31.

The new trains must be no more than 105m long to match existing platform lengths on Line C. Each train must be able to carry at least 455 passengers, 500 being the optimum capacity. Boarding height will be 550mm to improve accessibility and enable faster boarding and alighting. The gangways between cars must be as wide as possible to facilitate passenger movement within the train.

Most of the new trains will replace the RER Line C fleet of predominately four-car double-deck EMUs, which comprises 31 class Z 5600 trains built in 1983-1985, 35 class Z 8800 EMUs dating from 1986-1988, 61 Z 20500 trains built in 1988-1997 and 54 Z 20900 EMUs dating from 2001-2003. At present class Z 5600 and Z 8800 EMUs are being slowly being replaced with 86 class Z 20500 EMUs cascaded from RER Line D, which like Line E is currently receiving new RER NG EMUs.

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