The Public Establishment of Railway Safety (EPSF) has approved the Alstom Régiolis to begin commercial operation in the French regions.
Close to 200 Régiolis trains have been ordered by 12 regions so far.
Alstom had expected to complete the certification phase in October 2013. Despite the delay, the first vehicles are expected to now begin service from April 22.
On March 21, EPSF confirmed that the Régiolis has been issued with its commercial operation permit (AMEC).
The AMEC approves the Régiolis for a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h, however, Alstom has indicated that speeds of 200 km/h would be possible on the four and three-car units.
Delivery of the new trains will continue until 2017.
The Regiolis trains, which are based on Alstom’s Coradia Polyvalent platform, come in both dual mode and electric models. The vehicles are being delivered in three, four and six-car formations, with the longest having a capacity of over 1,000 passengers.
A total of 216 Coradia Polyvalent trainsets have been purchased by SNCF and the French regions, with 182 Régiolis sets ordered for regional TER services and 34 Coradia Liner vehicles procured for the renewal of SNCF Intercity trains.
