Passenger and freight rolling stock

This grouping englobes both passenger and freight rolling-stock builders. While the nature of their products may be different, their interests nevertheless converge if only because their business is to build and maintain rolling stock for working on railway lines.

Rolling stock and integrators: technology as a servant of diversity

Within the grouping, the distinctive feature of freight equipment manufacturers are the specific nature of their market and the fact that their wagon designs are tailored to meet the needs of diversified markets.
These companies are supported by the Public Authorities as part of efforts designed to rebalance the rail/road modal split. Strong State backing for the first Shortline operators (OFPs) perfectly illustrates the policy shift in this regard. For their part, passenger rolling stock manufacturers cater to a whole range of train types: high-speed trains, regional trains, urban-transit and suburban transit rolling stock (metros, RER, tramways, tram-trains). Manufacturers have successfully upgraded their technologies in phase with the needs of these different markets so as to guarantee speed, safety and comfort in the interest of passengers.

Rolling stock and integrators: forward-looking innovations

Freight rolling-stock manufacturers propose a range of wagon types that are regularly tailored to meet market needs: flat wagons, high-sided covered wagons, covered wagons, tank wagons, hopper wagons, etc. Their efforts are also focused on constantly reducing the weight of wagons, improving their efficiency and designing them to meet specific needs, a typical case in point being the Modalohr wagon.
Grouping members, conscious of the important role played by road transport upstream and downstream of their activities, have similarly proposed solutions adapted to combined transport, bimodal systems or the railway rolling road.

Passenger rolling-stock companies innovate at all levels

Very high speeds

The launch of the French first-generation TGV-PSE trains in 1981 was followed by the introduction of technical-enhanced versions: TGV-Atlantic (1989), TGV-Network (1993), TGV-Duplex (1995), TGV-Pos (early 2000s).
These have now been superseded by the AGV trainset with power distributed along the entire train length. This latest train model offers presents several interesting features: extra seats, reduced weight, train modularity, greater energy efficiency, and lower maintenance costs. Another innovative development is the incorporation of the ERTMS system into the latest-generation Duplex sets.

Regional transport

The rolling-stock models (XTER 72500, XTER 73500, TER2N, TER 2NNG CORADIA Duplex and ZTER) in use on regional services were followed in 2004 by a new generation of more environmentally-friendly and more versatile high-capacity regional trains (AGCs) based on the modularity concept for interior fittings, the number of coaches and the traction mode. The AGC, as the first hybrid train in the world, is also available in Bimodal/Dual-current version (Bi-Bi) (access to electric networks under different voltages and to non-electric lines).

2010 saw the launch of double-decker, ultra-high-capacity Regio 2N trainsets (including a model contractually-designed for 200 km/h working) and of Regiolis new-generation single-level regional trains developed from the Coradia Polyvalent rolling stock: Improved performance levels, accessibility, modularity, user-friendliness, low noise levels, fuller compliance with environmental standards are some of the novel features incorporated into these train designs.

Urban and suburban transport

2009 was marked by the launch of the first French wide-bodied Francilien or SPACIUM trainsets based on the « Boa » design incorporating ultra-modern features and destined for the Ile-de-France Transilien network.

For the record, fully-automated metro technology was historically and initially designed and developed in France with the VAL system (fully-automated tyred metro) launched in Lille (1983) and later successfully exported to other countries in Europe, Asia and North America. Today the family of VAL metros (Val 206, Val 208 and Val 208NG) is being enlarged with the forthcoming launch of CityVal rolling stock on Line 2 of the Rennes Metropole automatic metro.

The picture would be incomplete without a reference to the tramway which has gone from success to success over the past twenty years thanks to its fluidity and ability to fit-into the urban environment with ease. The tried-and-tested Citadis tramway, fully-designed and built in France, is renowned for its reliability. Over 1500 sets have now been ordered by operators in the five continents. Citadis tramways have also been chosen by 36 cities including 19 in France alone.

Nantes and Besançon have recently ordered a new type of rolling stock - the Urbos tramway - in its short short 24m-long version.

Avento or Citadis Dualis tram-trains are purpose-built to operate on the urban tramway network and, beyond city precincts, in outer-suburban areas using the conventional railway network thanks to adaptations made in terms of power, safety and comfort.

Each of the five families of urban and suburban transport integrates innovations focused on comfort enhancements and environmental compliance.