Île-de-France Mobilités signed a financing agreement with Transilien SNCF Voyageurs to deliver EUR 590 million for the modernisation of Villeneuve Saint-Georges depot to be used for the future RER NG train fleet to operate the RER Line D and the Régio 2N trains of the R and RER D lines.
The investment is part of the “Villeneuve Tomorrow” (“Villeneuve Demain”) project that will ensure the facility will be suitable for the new RER NG train fleet to be delivered by Alstom for RER D Line.
Under the Villeneuve Demain, a EUR 685 million investment will be allotted of which EUR 590 million will be provided by by Île-de-France Mobilités while EUR 95 million by the Ile-de-France region and the State as part of the State-Region plan (État-Région).
To accommodate the future trains, the construction of new facilities and the modernisation of the existing ones is needed at Villeneuve Saint-Georges depot, where repair and storage areas will be also modernised. The complex – 55 hectares in total – is located on the Villeneuve Prairie site, close to Choisy-le-Roi station, which is now servicing the Intercités and TER trains for which the maintenance activities will be relocated.
The upgrade of the depot also includes the reconfiguration of existing spaces, improving the entrances/exits to and from the main lines with the creation of four new access points which will facilitate train movement, free up space on the tracks and improve flux on the lines concerned. Reinforcement of the power supply system, the installation of signalling and automation systems to control train movement in the depot and to and from the main line are also part of the project.
The preparatory work has already begun, with in particular the demolition of the old buildings and the preparation of the sites and the delivery of the upgraded site is scheduled for the end of 2027.
The depot will accommodate the 80 Regio 2 N and 82 RER NG trains, the entire R line fleet and half of the RER D rolling stock.
Passengers using R and RER D lines of Transilien benefit the Régio 2N trains and from April 2024, the RER D Line will be operated by the new double-deck EMUs.
In December 2022 the first RER next generation 130-metre-long train manufactured by Alstom arrived at Villeneuve Saint-Georges depot to enter trials and staff training before entering commercial operation.
In February 2023, the first tests of the RER NG train started on lines E and D and will continue this year. The first trials took place during nighttime on Line D at the platforms of Gare de l’Est and will be completed in October 2023. Tests will be also essential to check the proper functioning of the camera system, the facilities for passengers with disabilities as well as the opening of the doors at the platforms and the correct position at stop signs.
Daytime tests are also scheduled to begin soon on Line D between Paris and Combes-la-Ville to ensure integration and staff training. They are expected to be completed within nine months.
RER NG trains will be tested in real conditions without passengers on board being positioned in the middle of the operational trains.
A total of 255 RER NG trains will be deployed on RER E and D lines. 130 seven-car trains will operate the Line D from the first half of 2024 and 125 six-car trains part of the next generation of new fleet are expected to serve Line E with the first ones from October 2023 – if acceptance by the competent authorities will be issued.
It is expected that 1.23 million passengers will use the next generation trains which will gradually replace the existing fleet.
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