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SNCF Oxygène

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SNCF Oxygène
Presentation of train design at Clermont-Ferrand station
Stock typeElectric multiple unit
ManufacturerCAF
AssemblyReichshoffen, France
Beasain, Spain
Number under construction50
Formation10 cars
Capacity420 seats (1st class: 103, 2nd class: 317)
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Train length188 metres (617 ft)
Width2.86 metres (9.4 ft)
Height4.26 metres (14.0 ft)
Floor height630 mm (25 in) (low floor car)
Wheel diameter
  • new: 840 mm (33 in)[1]
  • worn: 770 mm (30 in)[1]
Maximum speed200 km/h (125 mph)
Weight365 t (359 long tons; 402 short tons)
Traction motorsAsynchronous
Power output4 MW (5,400 hp)
GearboxCAF MIIRA AHD-450-2.571-1[1]
Gear ratio2.571[1]
Electric system(s)
Current collector(s)Pantograph
Safety system(s)ETCS, KVB
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Oxygène Z 26700 (previously known as the Confort200) is a high speed, electric multiple unit, passenger train under construction by CAF, for SNCF for use on their Intercités services. The trains will serve the Paris-Clermont Ferrand, Paris-Orléans-Limoges-Toulouse (POLT) and Bordeaux-Marseilles lines. It is planned for entry into service in March 2027.

History

[edit]

In 2010, an agreement was signed between SNCF and the French government to support the Intercités service, troubled with low profitability.[2] In 2012, owing to the potential cost of replacing the Corail rolling stock on Intercités services, refurbishment of TGV Sud-Est sets was considered, for service at a lower speed.[2][3]

The order, worth €700 million, for 28 trainsets, with options for 75 more (including 20 which could be used on a Bordeaux-Marseille service), was placed in December 2019 and funded by the French government.[4][5][6]

The choice of CAF, a Spanish company, over the French Alstom, was controversial among some local elected officials and unions.[7]

It was initially planned to be built at Bagnères-de-Bigorre, France, and Beasain, Spain.[8] CAF later took over Alstom's Reichshoffen site (along with the Coradia Polyvalent platform and Bombardier's Talent 3 platform) in the process of the latter's acquisition of Bombardier Transportation.[9] It was later confirmed the first 8 trainsets will be built at CAF's Beasain plant in Spain, with the rest at their site in Reichshoffen, Alsace, France.[6]

Testing was started in July 2023 at the Velim test track in the Czech Republic, for tests up to 200 km/h.[10]

Introduction into service was initially planned for 2025.[10] This was however delayed to Q1 2027, due to faults, involving excessive brake pad wear, and vibrations caused by failure of traction motors (since resolved).[11] Traction motors were sent back to Mitsubishi Electric in Japan, for review.[12] Homologation testing on the French network will begin in February 2026, including on planned operational routes.[13][14]

In December 2024, a further 22 trains were ordered by SNCF for €400 million for services on the Bordeaux - Marseille main line. These additional trains will be built entirely at CAF's Reichshoffen plant.[15] These trains will enter service from 2028.[16]

Investment in the trains and the infrastructure includes €715 million for the first batch and €650 million for the second batch, and €100 million for new maintenance facilities in the Paris Region (at Ivry-sur-Seine and Villeneuve-Saint-Georges), Clermont-Ferrand and Brive-la-Gaillarde.[16]

The French government and SNCF are also spending €2.5 billion on renewing the Paris-Clermont Ferrand and Paris-Toulouse main lines. In addition to this, adapting the lines to accommodate the new Oxygène trains is expected to cost €515 million.[17]

The first train was unveiled in SNCF's Villeneuve-Saint-Georges depot on 24 April 2025. The first 2 trains are to be tested from mid-2025, for type approval by December 2026.[18]

Design

[edit]

The 10-car articulated 188 m train sets will be able to run at a maximum speed of 200 km/h in service. Trains will have WiFi, power outlets and USB ports at all seats. There will 10 numbered bicycle spaces in each train set, in a car at the centre of the train, each with charging points for electric bicycles. In addition to the real time information system, screens will show a live view from the cab.[16][18]

Each 10-car trainset will be designed to be split in two for easier maintenance. Distributed traction will be provided in the form of asynchronous motors on the end cars and 2 centre cars, with a continuous power rating of 4 MW.[19]

Trains will be fitted to work both 25 kV 50 Hz AC and 1.5kV DC lines. There will be capacity for 420 passengers (equivalent roughly to 7 Corail coaches - 103 in first class, and 317 in second class).[12]

Boarding height will be 630 mm above rail height on low floor cars to allow for better accessibility, in addition to wide gangways.[19]

Trains are equipped with ETCS and KVB, the train protection system used in France.[6]

CAF selected Mitsubishi Electric to supply traction motors for the order in 2022, following delivery of prototype main transformers in 2017, which were used for a Z 2N commuter train and T4 tram-train operating in Paris.[20] The traction systems involve roof-mounted converters and inverters with natural air cooling.[21]

Service

[edit]

The new trains will allow for the addition of another return service each day on the routes planned. Time savings of 15 minutes from the journey time to the Paris – Clermont-Ferrand and Paris – Limoges service are expected, with journey times of 3h15min and 2h51min respectively.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Gearboxes" (PDF). cafmiira.com. p. 54. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "La SNCF veut remplacer les trains Intercités par des TGV à petite vitesse" [SNCF wants to replace Intercités trains with low-speed TGVs]. Challenges (in French). 10 October 2012. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023.
  3. ^ Steinmann, Lionel (15 January 2013). "Bientôt de vieux TGV pour remplacer les trains Corail" [Soon old TGVs to replace Corail trains]. Les Echos (in French). Archived from the original on 28 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Railway builder CAF named preferred bidder for new Intercités trains order" (PDF). Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles. SNCF. 18 September 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  5. ^ Railway-News (19 September 2019). "SNCF Chooses CAF for New Intercity Trains". Railway-News. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "Oxygène next-generation French inter-city train unveiled". Railway Gazette International.
  7. ^ Guérin, Jean-Yves (18 September 2019). "SNCF: CAF sélectionné face à Alstom pour fournir 28 trains Intercités" [SNCF: CAF selected against Alstom to supply 28 Intercités trains]. Le Figaro (in French). Archived from the original on 3 May 2024.
  8. ^ "CAF secures order from SNCF for Intercity trains". RailTech.com. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Alstom completes divestment of its Coradia Polyvalent platform, its Reichshoffen production site in France and its TALENT 3 platform, currently developed in Hennigsdorf, Germany to CAF". Alstom. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  10. ^ a b "First of SNCF's Oxygène inter-city trains heads for testing". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  11. ^ Alexey, Stolchnev; Olga, Yashchenko (20 May 2024). "Regional Oxygene EMUs for France delayed for four years by CAF". RollingStockWorld. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b Preston, Robert (21 May 2024). "Introduction of SNCF's new Oxgène inter-city fleet delayed to 2027". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024.
  13. ^ "CAF and SNCF Voyageurs continue to test OXYGENE trains". RailMarket. 21 May 2024.
  14. ^ "CAF poursuit avec SNCF Voyageurs les essais dynamiques du premier train OXYGENE" [CAF continues dynamic testing of the first OXYGENE train with SNCF Voyageurs] (PDF). SNCF (in French). 14 May 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2024.
  15. ^ Peston, Robert (23 December 2024). "SNCF orders more Oxygène trains from CAF". International Railway Journal.
  16. ^ a b c "New trainsets to run on Intercités lines in 2027". SNCF Group. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  17. ^ Haydock, David (2 May 2025). "First Oxygène train for SNCF unveiled". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  18. ^ a b "La SNCF dévoile le train «Oxygène» qui remplacera les Intercités Corail" [SNCF unveils the “Oxygène” train which will replace the Corail Intercités]. Le Figaro (in French). 24 April 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  19. ^ a b Hughes, Murray (8 January 2021). "France: Confort 200 to trim trip times on two routes". Railway Gazette International.
  20. ^ Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric. "Mitsubishi Electric – News Releases Mitsubishi Electric Makes First Delivery of Traction Systems for French National Railway Operator SNCF Voyageurs". Mitsubishi Electric – Global Website. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Japanese traction package to equip French inter-city trains". International Railway Journal. 10 February 2022.
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