France is testing an unconventional solution to reuse approximately 5,700 km of abandoned secondary railway lines: light electric vehicles capable of traveling both on roads and on railways. Informally dubbed “Uber on rails,” these “Ferromobiles” are not intended to be trains, but rather a low-cost alternative for mobility in underserved rural areas.
According to data cited by the French press, there are approximately 5,700 km of unused secondary railway lines in France, many of which have been abandoned due to the high cost of modernizing them for heavy, conventional trains.
From regional trains to “Uber on rails”
The project is being developed by the engineering company SICEF, part of the Flexmove consortium coordinated by AKKA Technologies. The proposed solution does not involve the return of classic trains, but the use of light electric vehicles adapted from the Peugeot e-Traveller model, capable of running automatically on rails and driving with a driver on public roads.
The railcars can carry up to eight passengers and are designed for routes where demand is too low for trains, but too high to rely exclusively on private cars.
First tests in Auvergne
The first tests are taking place on the Courpière – Vertolaye line in the Auvergne region, a rural area where rail services have been suspended for many years. If the results confirm the economic and operational viability of the concept, the project could be extended to other regions such as Occitanie, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Brittany.
The vehicles will not share infrastructure with conventional trains, but will use only decommissioned lines, thus avoiding traffic conflicts or safety issues.
Zero-emission “light” rail transport
From an operational point of view, Ferromobiles can operate either on fixed schedules with reduced waiting times or on demand via a mobile app, in a model similar to on-demand transport.
The concept is presented as a 100% electric solution with zero emissions during operation, which makes use of existing infrastructure without massive investments in electrification or modernization.
The French publication Automobile Magazine described the project as an example of “frugal innovation with high impact,” based on the intelligent reuse of existing infrastructure and significantly lower operating costs than those of conventional rail transport.
Project supported by the France 2030 program
The development of Ferromobiles is part of the government’s France 2030 plan, through which the French authorities aim to decarbonize transport and improve mobility in underserved areas.
The government has entrusted SICEF with coordinating a consortium that includes, in addition to AKKA Technologies, companies and institutions such as Systra, Université Gustave Eiffel, and the start-up Entropy.
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