FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) began operating the first of 34 Alstom Coradia Liner V160 trains on February 6.

THE Bretagne-Pays de la Loire high-speed line moved another step closer to the start of operations at the end of January, when TGVs reached the maximum testing speed of 352km/h.

A new fares concept offering 16-27-years olds almost unlimited travel on TGV and inter-city services was unveiled on January 25 by Mrs Rachel Picard, CEO of Voyages SNCF.

THIRTY years after France introduced the Regional Express Transport (TER) brand to reflect the decentralisation of regional passenger operations, French regions are looking to expand their role in the specification and procurement of local rail services.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has selected a consortium of Alstom-Bombardier to renew trains on lines D and E of the Paris RER network.

THE board of French infrastructure manager SNCF Network approved the draft of its first multi-year performance contract with the government, which includes a 10-year spending plan, during a meeting on December 20.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) and Paris Transport Authority (RATP) have signed an agreement to support Senegal’s efforts to develop the 57km standard-gauge regional express train service from Dakar to Blaise Diagne International Airport near Ndiass during a state visit to Senegal by the president of France Mr François Hollande this week.

WI-FI services were officially launched on TGV services on the Paris - Lyon high-speed line on December 15 following the completion of a collaborative project by 21net and Engie Ineo.

THE first Alstom TGV 2N2 Euroduplex Atlantique trains for France’s Sud Europ Atlantique high-speed line entered commercial service on December 11, when French secretary of state for transport Mr Alain Vidalies and Mrs Florence Parly, executive director of Voyages SNCF welcomed passengers aboard the first service, the 09.28 Paris Montparnasse - Toulouse Matabiau.

FRENCH secretary of state for transport Mr Alain Vidalies and Mr Xavier Bertand, president of the region of Hauts-de-France, announced on December 7 that control of two loss-making inter-city services will pass to the regional government in a deal which includes the renewal of rolling stock.