 Le Train's proposed network map. | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Fleet | 10 (expected) |
| Key people | Alain Getraud (CEO) |
| Founders | Alain Getraud |
| Dates of operation | 2028 (expected)– |
| Other | |
| Website | www |
Le Train (French pronunciation:[lətʁɛ̃]) is a French private railway company;[1] it is the first privatehigh-speed operator in France to hold an operating licence.[2]
The company was founded in 2020 with the ambition to operate the first private high-speed rail service in France. In December 2022, Le Train received its operating license, and in January 2023 signed a €300m contract with Spanish train manufacturerTalgo to deliver 10AVRIL single-deck high-speed trains. Le Train is expected to launch operations in 2028.[3]
Le Train was created with the objective of providing interregional high-speed services across the western regions of the country. These connections will include cities like Bordeaux, Tours, Nantes, and Rennes. The company has partnered with the Spanish manufacturer Talgo to supply its fleet of trains.[4]
Founded in 2020, Le Train was created by a group of entrepreneurs, including Alain Getraud, a former SNCF executive. The company was established to address a gap in high-speed rail services for the western regions of France. Le Train aims to offer a faster, more efficient travel option for underserved areas, complementing the national service provided by SNCF.[5]
During April 2021, Le Train announced plans to run open-accessTGV services using 10 TGV trains. The company did not specify where it would be sourcing TGV rolling stock from and, whilst SNCF was at the time withdrawingTGV Atlantique trains and had plans to withdrawTGV Réseau trains as well as severalTGV Sud Est trains in storage awaiting scrappage, it was reported that SNCF had never sold TGV rolling stock on the second-hand market and had traditionally opted to scrap its withdrawn train sets instead.
Le Train plans to operate high-speed routes connecting Bordeaux with Nantes and Bordeaux with Rennes. The Bordeaux-Nantes route will feature five round trips per day, while the Bordeaux-Rennes route will have four round trips daily. These services will include extensions to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport and Arcachon, with intermediate stops at cities such as La Rochelle and Vannes, enhancing accessibility across the region.[6][7]
The company launched a Europe-wide competitivetender process to procure the sought rolling stock in early 2022.[2] On 24 December 2022, Le Train received its operating licence (JORF no. 0298),[8] making it the first private high-speed operator in France to hold a licence.[2]
In March 2022, Le Train awarded Talgo, a Spanish train manufacturer, the future contract to supply the company with its new AVRIL high-speed trains.[9]
On 23 January 2023, Le Train announced it had signed a contract with the Spanish train manufacturer Talgo for an order of 10 high-speed trains based on the Talgo AVRIL platform, which once services commence would make it the second operator to operate the type after Spain'sRenfe. This contract, valued at €300m, also covers 30 years of maintenance and spare parts as well as a jointR&D unit inNouvelle-Aquitaine, France. Le Train cited the AVRIL's level-floor accessibility, low-energy usage and dedicated spaces for bicycles and other equipment as factors in its decision to select Talgo as the winning bidder. Le Train also announced services would run on the high-speedLGV Sud Europe Atlantique betweenBordeaux andTours, as opposed toBordeaux andPoltiers as initially planned. The company said it had managed to negotiate lowertrack access charges with Lisea, the private company which manages the line, achieving what is reportedly a significant advantage for Le Train.Saumur andAngers in theLoire Valley were announced as additional intermediate stops on services toNantes andRennes.[2][10]
In September 2023, it was reported that Le Train had received an additional€8 million in funding from four investors:Crédit-Agricole Charente-Périgord Expansion, AQUITI Gestion, NACO and Tudigo X Le Train.[11]
Le Train is expected to launch operations in 2028.[12]
| Le Train Talgo AVRIL | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Talgo |
| Assembly | Rivabellosa,Álava, Spain |
| Family name | Talgo AVRIL |
| Constructed | 2024–2027 (expected) |
| Entered service | 2028 (expected) |
| Number under construction | 10 |
| Capacity | 350-450 |
| Operators | Le Train |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 201.9 metres (662 ft) |
| Width | 3.2 metres (10 ft) |
| Maximum speed | 365 km/h (230 mph) |
Under a contract believed to be worth around €300m, Le Train has 10Talgo AVRIL trains on order from Spanish manufacturerTalgo, with options for additional trains over a 10-year period. Talgo was selected through an EU-wide tendering process in 2022.[2]
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