THE European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) has granted the Authorisation to Place on the Market (Apom) for the Avelia Horizon high-speed train built by Alstom, enabling the fleet to enter service in France. A total of 130 double-deck trains have been ordered by French National Railways (SNCF), branded as TGV M.
The Apom covers the dual-voltage (1.5kV dc and 25kv 50hz ac) version of the TGV M, which comprises two power cars and nine trailer cars. On high-speed lines the new train is authorised to operate at up to 320km/h. On the conventional network the maximum speed is 220km/h on lines equipped with the KVB automatic train protection (ATP) system, and 160km/h elsewhere. Up to two trains can operate in multiple.
SNCF has ordered a total of 100 dual-voltage TGV M high-speed trains, as well as 30 four-voltage trains also capable of taking traction current at 3kV dc and 15kV 16.7Hz ac.
Under the production schedule agreed with SNCF Passenger, Alstom says that the first two dual-voltage trains for passenger service will be delivered from this month, rising to six trains by the end of August, and 13 trains by the end of this year. Following several weeks of pre-commercial operation for final checks, and also enabling staff to familiarise themselves with the new train, SNCF Passenger says that the TGV M will carry its first passengers at the start of the new school year in early September, with the first six trains entering service “during a suitable operational window.”
The first trains will enter service on the Paris - Lyon - Marseille route where SNCF Passenger is in competition with Italian State Railways’ (FS) subsidiary Trenitalia. SNCF is planning to compete with Trenitalia in its home market, launching domestic services in Italy with a fleet of 15 four-voltage TGV M trains that will also replace the six single-deck TGV Réseau trains currently operating on the Paris - Milan route.
Eurostar has ordered 30 four-voltage TGV M trains in order to replace its e300 fleet and other Alstom trains making up the former Thalys fleet, increasing capacity and enabling direct services from London to Germany and Switzerland. Moroccan National Railways (ONCF) has ordered 18 trains and French new entrant Velvet 12 trains.
Testing programme
Pre-series four-voltage train 1402 is already on test in Belgium. Trials with pre-series train 1401 started recently in Italy, but there are concerns that at 4.32m the TGV M is too high for tunnels on conventional lines that might be used when operations on the high-speed network are disrupted. According to SNCF, almost all of the Italian network has already been checked for compatibility.
“Our priority is to ensure the successful commercial commissioning of this revolutionary TGV, that’s why we are bolstering the process with a pre-commercial test run this summer, to ensure the new TGV fully delivers on its promises from the moment it welcomes its first passengers in September,” says SNCF Passenger chairman and CEO, Christophe Fanichet.
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