SNCF Voyageurs orders 10 bi-mode Régiolis trains for Nouvelle-Aquitaine
SNCF Voyageurs has awarded CAF a contract to supply 10 bi-mode Régiolis regional trainsets for services in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in south-west France. CAF said the contract is worth around EUR 80 million.
The four-car units are specified with 208 seats per train. They are intended to supplement the Régiolis fleet used on regional routes in the region where electrification remains incomplete.
Bi-mode strategy for partially electrified regional routes
The trains are designed to operate under overhead power where available and continue beyond electrified sections on non-electrified parts of the route. This allows direct services over corridors with both electrified and non-electrified sections, without forcing passengers to change trains at the end of electrified infrastructure.
CAF’s announcement did not specify individual lines or a delivery timetable. The procurement adds to ongoing regional rolling-stock investment for TER operations delivered by SNCF Voyageurs under regional authority contracts.
Why it matters: Bi-mode procurement is a practical choice where electrification gaps persist, because it preserves direct services while infrastructure upgrades take years.