The first Bombardier-built Regio 2N trainset has been launched by the president of the Aquitaine Regional Council during a ceremony at Bordeaux Saint Jean station on September 15.
Aquitaine is one of several French regions to have ordered the double-deck vehicles under a €7 billion framework contract with Bombardier.
The trains have been manufactured in Crespin and, along with Alstom’s Régiolis, have been described as France’s next generation of TER regional trains.
By mid 2016, Aquitaine hopes to be operated a fleet of 24 Regio 2N trains. The new vehicles will first go into operation between Bordeaux-Arcachon, and Bordeaux-Agen, and then they will be rolled out between Bordeaux, Angouleme, Hendaye and Pau.
Brittany, Centre, Nord-Pas de Calais, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Rhône – Alpes have also all placed orders for Regio 2N trains. If all options are exercised, Bombardier could end up building 860 trainsets for the French regions.
The Regio 2N will be built in configurations ranging from six to 10 cars, with the longer train stretching 135 metres. The maximum speed of the units will also vary between 160 km/h and 200 km/h.
