French operator SNCF Voyageurs has entrusted CAF with the supply of 22 Intercités trains, called Oxygène, which will serve the Bordeaux-Marseille line, in addition to the 28 trains contracted in 2019 for the Paris-Limoges-Toulouse and Paris-Clermont-Ferrand lines.
The initial contract for Oxygène trains included the option of extending the supply by up to 75 additional trains. The new agreement signed for 22 more trains represents an amount exceeding 400 million euros. The purchase of new Intercités rolling stock is financed by the State, as the authority that manages the TET (Trains d’Équilibre du Territoire) network, medium- and long-distance trains that serve the main French cities not connected by high-speed rail.
The Intercités Oxygène trains offer a total capacity of 420 seats (317 seats in 2nd class and 103 in 1st) with a high level of comfort. The comfortable, ergonomic seats with integrated backrests have been specially designed for this train, with an aesthetic that pays homage to the seats that equipped the first Corail trains 50 years ago. They will also be equipped with LED reading lights, power sockets and USB ports, as well as high-speed WiFi.
Accessibility and ease of movement within the train are enhanced by a wide corridor, which also provides a dedicated space for bicycles, as well as plenty of luggage space. The Intercités Oxygène train also has a catering area.
Oxygène to be manufactured at the CAF plant in Reichshoffen
The 22 new trains will be manufactured entirely at CAF‘s facilities in Alsace, where most of the 28 trains from the initial order are already being produced. This agreement for additional trains reinforces the workload of the Reichshoffen plant until 2029.
With 250 years of industrial and railway history, the Reichshoffen plant, which employs 740 people, is today an important plant of the CAF group, thanks to its engineering and design office, which brings together more than 130 engineers and technicians capable of designing a complete train, as well as its flexible industrial capacity and its facilities for vehicle testing.
Testing in progress
CAF is currently carrying out tests at the Velim test track (Czech Republic) to validate the design and performance of the Oxygène train, collecting and recording evidence of the proper functioning of the rolling stock, verifying compliance with national and European railway requirements. In parallel, the Beasain and Reichshoffen plants continue to manufacture the series trains.
Type approval tests are scheduled to take place on the French rail network over several months from autumn 2025. Finally, from 2026, the Oxygène trains will be tested in real conditions on the lines they are intended for: Paris-Clermont-Ferrand and Paris-Limoges-Toulouse. After successfully completing the various scheduled phases, the railway safety authorities will issue the corresponding Authorisation, an essential step for launching commercial service.
Share on:
