Alstom and SNCF introduce a regional battery-powered train

SNCF Voyageurs and Alstom have unveiled the first of five battery-powered trains operating in various regions of France, this is reported by the railway transport news portal, Railway Supply.

These battery-powered trains were developed in collaboration with the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Île-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie-Pyrenees-Mediterranean, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions to reduce CO2 emissions on non-electrified rail lines in France.

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As part of this project, five dual-mode trains are being upgraded by replacing their diesel engines with batteries, making them 100% electric.

The first of these battery-powered trains, serving the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, has left the Alstom Crespin facility for dynamic testing.

So far, the first upgraded model has undergone static and dynamic tests at speeds up to 60 km/h at the Alstom Crespin plant, demonstrating the battery-powered traction mode, including the charging and discharging system, functions effectively.

Testing will continue at the Centre d’essais ferroviaires in Bar-le-Duc, where validation and certification tests will be conducted at speeds up to 160 km/h.

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This phase will assess various simulated route scenarios under commercial operating conditions.

The final testing stage is scheduled for December 2023 and January 2024 on the French national railway network (RFN) to demonstrate compatibility with the existing French infrastructure.

It is expected that these new regional battery-powered AGC trains will enter commercial service throughout France from December 2024.

The project’s total budget is €40.2 million, with each region contributing €5.7 million, Alstom providing €5.5 million, and SNCF funding €6 million.

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