RATP Dev has signed a contract with the Normandy region of France to operate TER regional services under the Nomad brand on 10 lines radiating from the city of Caen. The operator has confirmed that the contract is worth €842m over its full 12-year term.
RATP Dev announced in September 2025 that it had been selected as preferred bidder for the first package of lines to be put out to tender by Normandy. The contract was signed on January 29 by Hervé Morin, president of the Normandy region, and RATP Dev CEO, Hiba Farès.
Following an 18-month pre-operation and mobilisation phase that started last month, RATP will operate Nomad services from July 11 2027 to December 12 2037. Compared with the service provided by incumbent French National Railways (SNCF) in 2024, the number of the trains operated will increase by 50% by 2028, with Caen - Cherbourg services increasing from four to eight a day and Caen - Évreux from one to eight.
RATP Dev will be required to improve punctuality from the current 91.8% to above 93.4%, as well as a significant reduction in cancelled trains to improve service reliability. Passengers will benefit from a digital assistance platform, providing real-time running information, while more onboard staff will be deployed and onboard catering provided on some long-distance services.
As well as opening a new local office in Caen and recruiting staff, RATP Dev will invest over the long term to improve operational reliability. This will include upgrading the fleet maintenance facility in Caen by 2029.
