FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) president Mr Guillaume Pepy and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) CEO Mr Andreas Meyer signed a joint letter of intent in Paris on October 30 providing a basis for the operation of the cross-border France-Vaud-Geneva RER network, which is due to be launched in 2017.

FRENCH transport minister Mr Frédéric Cuvillier announced on October 23 that the government has finalised the route and implementation schedule for the extensions of TGV Sud-Europ Atlantique (TGV SEA) to Toulouse and the Spanish border.

PLANS to restructure France's railways took a step forward on October 16 when transport minister Mr Frédéric Cuvillier presented a reform bill which, if endorsed by parliament, will bring French National Railways (SNCF) and infrastructure manager French Railway Network (RFF) together under an umbrella organisation.

OPEN access long-distance passenger operator Thello has announced it will withdraw direct overnight services between Paris and Rome from December 15, instead offering improved connections with Trenitalia high-speed services, which it says will reduce journey times between the two capitals.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has ordered 34 Coradia Liner trains from Alstom in a contract worth around €350m.

RENNES Métropole has awarded a €178m turnkey contract to Siemens to for the construction of the French city's second fully-automatic light metro line. This follows a contract for the first phase of studies which was placed in 2010.

BOMBARDIER presented the first Régio 2N double-deck emu to French National Railways (SNCF) president Mr Guillaume Pepy and representatives of regional governments at its Crespin plant in northeast France on September 25.

THE extension of Paris tram-train Line T4 to Clichy-sous-Bois and Montfermeil has moved a step closer after the €214m project was granted public utility status by Seine-Saint-Denis council.

A ceremony was held at Metz station on September 21 to mark the handover of the first of 10 Alstom Régiolis bi-mode multiple units for the French region of Lorraine.

FRENCH Rail Network (RFF) has submitted a six-year €15bn plan to modernise the railway network to the deputy minister of transport, Mr Frédéric Cuvillier.