FRANCE's transport minister Mr Frédéric Cuvillier says that French National Railways (SNCF) and French Rail Network (RFF) must be patient as the new law to bring the national operator and infrastructure manager together under a new umbrella organisation is "progressing according to constitution procedure."

CORSICAN Railways (CFC) has awarded French National Railways (SNCF) subsidiary SNCF Partnerships a three-year contract to provide staff training and technical assistance on the island's 232km metre-gauge network.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) says a detached switch fishplate is likely to be cause of the derailment of an inter-city train on July 12 at Brétigny-sur-Orge south of Paris in which six people died and 62 were injured.

FRENCH Prime Minister Mr Jean-Marc Ayrault announced on July 9 that French National Railways (SNCF) will replace its entire fleet of Intercity trains between 2015 and 2025 as the government seeks to shift the focus of rail investment away from high-speed and into the modernisation of the conventional network.

THE boards of French National Railways (SNCF) and Belgian National Railways (SNCB) have decided to make Thalys, their jointly-run high-speed operation, a stand-alone company in 2015, subject to European Commission approval.

A new concourse, known as Hall 2, was officially opened today at Paris Gare de Lyon by the president of French National Railways (SNCF), Mr Guillaume Pepy, the president of Vinci Construction France, the main contractor, Mr Gérard Bienfait, and the president of catering company Elior, Mr Robert Zolade.

Reducing ground-borne noise and vibration remains a major challenge for railways aiming to increase freight traffic volumes.

Ouigo, SNCF's new low-fare TGV service, has got off to a flying start since its launch at the beginning of April. As David Briginshaw reports from Paris, the service has already achieved a high satisfaction rating with passengers and attracted more people to rail than expected.

This month the French government will publish its draft proposals to restructure French railways with the expectation that a fully-fledged infrastructure manager will emerge. Rather than waiting for legislation to come into force in 2015, French National Railways (SNCF) has already started working more closely with French Rail Network (RFF), as SNCF president Mr Guillaume Pepy revealed in an exclusive interview with David Briginshaw in Paris.

TGV Lyria is forging ahead with new and improved services between France and Switzerland. Director general Alain Barbey spoke to Anitra Green about the company's progress.