SNCF Voyageurs has put into service for the first time the new RER NG train on the Goussainville–Melun line, which is part of the RER D (Réseau Express Régional) line in Île-de-France, serving the Paris metropolitan area. It should be noted that the new ninth-generation train entered commercial service in December 2024 on the Creil – Corbeil-Essonnes section of the RER D line.
RER NG represents the fourth generation of RER rolling stock, and its introduction on the Goussainville–Melun section of the RER D line marks an important milestone in the modernization program of the longest RER line in Île-de-France, with its 194 km, traveled daily by over 630,000 passengers.
The entry into service of the latest-generation train on the Goussainville–Melun line marks an important step in the transformation of the RER D, a process that has been underway for several years. To prepare for the operation of the new trains, SNCF Réseau has carried out extensive work to adapt and modernize the railway infrastructure. Major projects include increasing the line’s electrical power to meet the needs of the RER NG. The power supply infrastructure has been reinforced, in particular with the construction of a substation in Cesson. In addition, platforms and tracks have been adapted, with work carried out at eight stations to raise the platforms and align them with the floor of the new trains, thus allowing all passengers to board.
Over a period of 20 months, dynamic integration tests were carried out on the RER NG, covering more than 12,000 kilometers, while 34 stations, 170 platforms, and 1,500 stations were tested and validated.
The RER NG, manufactured by Alstom at its Valenciennes-Petite Forêt and Crespin plants in the Hauts-de-France region, has been designed with both the overall architecture and interior design in mind to optimize capacity and passenger flows.
The new RER NG train (NG stands for new generation) will help improve passenger comfort and increase the regularity of service on the RER D line. In June 2025, SNCF Voyageurs ordered from Alstom another 96 RER NG trains for the RER D line in Île-de-France. The EUR 1.7 billion contract is 100% financed by Île-de-France Mobilités and was designed in collaboration between Alstom and SNCF Voyageurs’ Rolling Stock Department to meet the specific challenges of urban mass transport on this line, while ensuring a high level of comfort for passengers in the Île-de-France region.
The RER NG is a “boa” type train (no separation between cars), which allows passengers to move throughout the entire train. This design facilitates the distribution and movement of passengers on board, optimizes capacity, and promotes exchange flows when boarding and alighting at stations.
To date, 30 multiple units have been delivered by Alstom, and work will continue to ensure that 100 RER NG trains are in operation per day on the RER D line by January 2026. Twenty trains will operate daily on the Goussainville–Melun line and 77 trains daily on the Creil–Corbeil-Essonnes line. The RER D line crosses the Île-de-France region from north to south, connecting the northern suburbs (Creil and Goussainville) with the south of the region (Melun, Corbeil-Essonnes). It is the longest RER line (194 km) and is served by 60 stations.
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