Alstom Omneo Trains on ZOU! Line Begin Service in France

Alstom Omneo trains on ZOU! line officially launched in Southern France, boosting service between Marseille, Toulon, and Nice with greater frequency and capacity. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Alstom’s new Omneo trains began commercial operation on the ZOU! line on June 29, 2025, offering faster, greener, and more frequent travel between key cities on the French Riviera. This launch marks a major step in France’s regional transport evolution, led by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and operator Transdev.

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Alstom Omneo Trains on ZOU! Line Transform Regional Mobility

Passengers now benefit from hourly service on weekdays, running from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. across nine major stations, including Marseille Saint-Charles, Toulon, Cannes, and Nice-Ville. Despite the expanded schedule, fares remain unchanged for now and will drop by 20% starting July 1. Prior to the launch, over 92,000 tickets had already been sold—highlighting strong public interest in the upgraded service.

Each 110-meter Omneo train, manufactured at Alstom’s Crespin plant in Northern France, accommodates 400 seated passengers and up to 730 in double formation. Powered entirely by green electricity, these trains support France’s push toward sustainable transportation. Backed by €250 million from the Region and €73 million from Banque des Territoires, the project reflects strong public investment in clean infrastructure.

Nice Opens New Maintenance Hub for Omneo Fleet

To ensure long-term reliability, the NGE Group constructed a 2,000-square-meter maintenance facility in Nice. This center will handle day-to-day upkeep, ensuring continuous service quality and reducing downtime.

Renaud Muselier, regional president, emphasized the milestone: “We’ve doubled train frequency, protected affordable fares, and launched a greener fleet—this is a bold leap for regional transport and public service.”

As the first French region to open regional rail to competition, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur positions itself as a model for modern, efficient, and sustainable mobility through the launch of Alstom Omneo trains on ZOU! line.

Source, photo: railway-news.com

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