SNCF Halts X’Trapolis Technical Issues Delays

SNCF pauses new X’Trapolis train deliveries because X’Trapolis technical issues persist. Transilien reports poor performance in the Île-de-France region daily. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Transilien, a subsidiary of SNCF, manages rail services in the Paris-area Île-de-France. The company slams Alstom, pointing to subpar manufacturing quality consistently.

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Alstom introduced the first dual-system X’Trapolis Cityduplex train in Paris in November 2023. SNCF ordered 166 trains, received 36, and operates 26 currently.

Acceptance of new trains halts indefinitely as technical setbacks continue without resolution. Public data on train readiness stays elusive, frustrating transparency efforts.

Le Figaro reveals equipment on new trains breaks twice as often as anticipated. Failures happen four times more frequently than with older models, it notes.

Transport officials in Île-de-France report punctuality fell to 87.9% in January 2025. This drop signals operational struggles linked to new train flaws.

X’Trapolis Technical Issues: Lubrication Challenges

Alstom blames problems on varying rail lubrication demands between old and new trains. New trains need less lubricant, but older ones from 1997 over-apply it.

Older trains deposit incompatible lubricants, causing wheel traction issues, Alstom explains. This mismatch heightens slippage risks, requiring extra track cleaning regularly.

SNCF now applies a short-term fix to cut lubricant buildup on the rails. The company teams up with Alstom to craft a permanent solution swiftly.

Software failures also spark numerous incidents, hampering service reliability across the network. Moreover, servicing new trains demands more time and resources than expected.

X’Trapolis Technical Issues: Software and Maintenance Woes

Higher maintenance complexity increases costs and slows repairs, SNCF officials confirm. These hurdles strain budgets and delay service improvements noticeably.

SNCF and Alstom work together to fix lubrication and software problems urgently. Yet, no clear timeline emerges for resuming full X’Trapolis fleet acceptance.

The situation highlights challenges of blending new tech with aging rail infrastructure. Stakeholders monitor progress as SNCF and Alstom address these ongoing issues.

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