The first of France’s new fleet of regional trains has arrived in the Bordeaux.
Alstom presented the new Coradia Polyvalent trainset, for the first time in its SNCF livery, to the Aquitaine Region today (July 4) in the presence of political leader Alain Rousset and SNCF chairman Guillaume Pépy.
As well as state and business officials, the general public also got chance to see the new train on display at Bordeaux Saint-Jean station.
Since 2002, France has invested 2.6 billion euros in new rolling stock for the French regions. In the same period passenger numbers on the country’s regional train services have increased by more than 55 per cent.
By the end of 2014, around 100 Régiolis trains – from an order of 182 signed in 2009 – will have been delivered to Alsace, Aquitaine, Lower Normandy, Lorraine and Picardy.
The first of these are due to complete dynamic testing in September before starting operation in 2014.
