At the end of March, SNCF Voyageurs brought together 70 data specialists and engineering students to use data analytics and artificial intelligence to envision the future digital features of the new TGV INOUI (SNCF’s premium high-speed service).
The event, organized as a datathon, took place on March 31 and April 1 and aimed to identify concrete applications for leveraging the data generated by France’s future high-speed train.
Maintenance, Energy, and Ticket Control
The 70 participants, divided into 12 teams, worked on three main areas: train maintenance, energy consumption, and the passenger experience.
One of the winning projects focused on maintenance optimization through an AI-powered data analysis and prediction module capable of monitoring the status of train equipment for multiple units in real time and anticipating its performance on upcoming trips.
The prototype presented was based on monitoring water consumption in restrooms and, according to SNCF, achieved 97% accuracy in estimating consumption per trip.
App for reducing energy consumption
Another winning team proposed an app for train engineers, designed to provide information on energy consumption for each trip and comparisons with the optimal level, based on real-time analysis that takes into account factors such as wind and outside temperature.
The jury also highlighted a solution designed to encourage eco-driving through instant feedback, trip history, and gamification elements intended to turn fuel-efficient driving into an operational reflex.
Self-check-in for passengers
On the passenger experience side, one of the teams proposed a self-check-in system, through which certain passengers could autonomously validate their ticket using a module presented as secure and ergonomic, capable of verifying identity and location on the train.
The Future of TGV INOUI, Built Around Data
According to SNCF Voyageurs, the stakes are higher than simply organizing an ideas competition. The company says that the future TGV INOUI is designed to generate, consume, and leverage data in real time, with nearly 25,000 variables analyzed every 100 milliseconds within the train’s internal network, before being transmitted to the operator’s IT systems.
For SNCF, this would transform every journey into an opportunity for continuous optimization, in terms of both operations and maintenance as well as passenger relations.
Data analysis as part of the new generation of TGVs
The French company views the new TGV INOUI not only as a new industrial product, but also as a digital platform in which data analysis will play a central role throughout the train’s entire lifecycle.
In this vein, the projects tested at the datathon are presented as examples of how future data streams could be used to increase reliability, reduce energy consumption, and make the travel experience smoother.
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