FRENCH Railways (SNCF) is part way through procurement of new multiple unit trains to replace all daytime loco-hauled Intercités (Intercity) services by the mid 2020s.
Two more contracts for new Intercités multiple units were announced at the end of 2017.
Bombardier will supply 32 eight-car R2N (or Omneo Premium) part double-deck, part-articulated inter-city EMUs for use operating Intercités services on these routes:
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■ Paris-Orléans-Tours
■ Paris-Bourges
■ Paris-Montargis-Nevers
The trains will be delivered between 2020 and 2022, replacing services operated currently by Class BB7200/BB26000 electric locomotives.
It appears the current limited Paris-Bourges-Montluçon through services will be replaced (possibly during 2018) by a DMU shuttle on the Bourges to Montluçon section, as this is currently still diesel hauled by BB67400 locomotives.
In addition, the Grand Est region has ordered six more ‘Coradia Liner’ bi-mode units from Alstom to replace ‘Corail’ coaches (and Class BB15000 locomotives), used to operate Paris Est to Bar-le-Duc commuter TER services.
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