THE FRENCH region of Rhône-Alpes announced on February 21 that it is forming an association with eight other regions with the aim of taking over the procurement and ownership of rolling stock for regional services from French National Railways (SNCF).

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) managed to achieve a 0.5% increase in turnover to €32.2bn and a 2% rise in Ebitda to €2.8bn in 2013 despite a 1.8% drop in revenue from its Geodis freight business and a 1.4% decline in income from TGV services.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) in cooperation with French Rail Network (RFF) and intermodal operator Kombiverkehr operated a 1500m-long freight train on January 18 between Sibelin yard near Lyon and Nîmes as part of Europe's Marathon project to operate longer freight trains.

FRANCE's deputy minister of transport, Mr Frédéric Cuvillier, has instructed French National Railways (SNCF) and French Rail Network (RFF) to implement three recommendations to improve track safety made by the Office of Land Transport Accident Inquiries (BEA-TT).

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has awarded Tata Steel a contract to supply more than 200,000 tonnes of rail for use on conventional and high-speed lines across France.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has exercised an option for an additional 30 Régio 2N double-deck emus from Bombardier in a €277m deal which is being funded by the regions of Picardie, Midi-Pyrénées and Pays-de-la-Loire.

THE BOARD of Ile-de-France transport authority Stif has voted to fund the acquisition of 91 new Bombardier trains for the Paris area Transilien suburban network as part of its €787m 2014 budget, which was announced on December 11.

THE Spanish and French presidents, Mr Mariano Rajoy and Mr François Hollande, announced on November 27 that direct TGV services between Paris and Barcelona will start on December 15. The long-awaited confirmation follows months of rolling stock validation tests carried out in both countries.

THE winners of the first European Rail Awards were announced at a ceremony in London on November 12 attended by around 600 delegates.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has appointed a joint venture of Newrest and Elior to revitalise catering on its TGV services and has set up a new catering business unit.