Alstom delivering the first Régiolis train in Aquitaine

Régiolis, the first next-generation regional train, was delivered today to the Aquitaine Region in the presence of Regional Chairman Alain Rousset, SNCF Chairman Guillaume Pépy, and Alstom Transport Président Henri Poupart-Lafarge. The first trainset will be presented to elected officials and association chairmen at the Bordeaux Saint-Jean station, prior to travelling from Bordeaux to Langon. It will also be presented to the general public at the Bordeaux train station.

The amount of passengers using regional trains – or TER1 s - in France rose by 55% since 2002, and the trend was further confirmed in 2012 with an additional 5% passengers. There are a million passengers daily taking the roughly 7,000 TERs that are circulating in the national rail network. To meet that demand, the Regions have invested €2.6b in next-generation regional trains from 2002 to 2012. As of today, 182 Régiolis trains have been ordered by 12 French Regions, as part of the contract signed between Alstom and SNCF in 2009.

The first Régiolis trains have so far travelled over 200,000 km and will have completed their dynamic test phase in September 2013. They will be put into service as soon as they receive their Commercial Operation Authorisation (AMEC - Autorisations de Mise en Exploitation Commerciale), to be issued by the French Rail Safety Public Authority (EPSF). Alstom teams will take part in training the drivers and maintenance teams. Thanks to the hard work of all players in France’s railway sector, close to 100 Régiolis trainsets will be delivered by late 2014. Trainsets in Alsace, Aquitaine, Lower Normandy, Lorraine and Picardy regions will be made available starting in 2013. Initial commercial operation will begin in 2014.

Régiolis trains stem from Alstom’s Coradia range. They are modular: they come in three lengths (56, 72 or 110 metres), feature four degrees of comfort in accordance with the distances being travelled (suburban, regional, inter-city, and trains for nationwide balance), and are equipped with a bimodal (diesel/electric) or electric engine. This is an ecological, cost-saving train thanks to its low energy use and reduced maintenance costs. Lastly, it is available to all for it has an integral low floor matching the height of the platforms.

The manufacturing of Régiolis trains generates more than 4,000 jobs in France at Alstom and its suppliers. 6 out of 10 Alstom facilities in France are taking part in the project: Reichshoffen for the design and the assembly, Ornans (motors), Le Creusot (bogies), Tarbes (traction systems), Villeurbanne (on-board computer systems) and Saint-Ouen (design).

1 - TER : Trains Express Régionaux or regional express trains

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 93,000 people in around 100 countries. It had sales of over €20 billion and booked close to €24 billion in orders in 2012/13.

About Alstom Transport

A promoter of sustainable mobility, Alstom Transport develops and markets the most complete range of systems, equipment and services in the railway sector. Alstom Transport manages entire transport systems, taking in rolling stock, signalling and infrastructure, and offers “turnkey” solutions. Alstom Transport recorded sales of 5.5 billion euros in the fiscal year 2012-2013. Alstom Transport is present in over 60 countries and employs near 26,700 people.