SNCF Voyageurs has unveiled the new Oxygène EMU at the Villeneuve-Saint-Georges maintenance depot, south-east of Paris. The new trainsets, manufactured by CAF, are in production at Reichshoffen, 50 km north of Strasbourg. The new fleet will be phased in as Corail Intercités conventional trains are retired.
Each trainset has 420 seats, ergonomically designed, with 20 more seats than the current models and provides passengers with increased comfort at both 1st and 2nd class.
The trains offer improved accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility, who can opt to remain in their wheelchair or transfer to a seat equipped with an assist bar and call button. Passengers will also benefit from Wi-Fi connection, personal power points and USB ports at every seat, including 2nd class, live onboard updates of passenger information, onboard video surveillance, as well as catering space for food and beverage breaks. The trains provide dedicated space for 10 bicycles, each with power points.
The Oxygène EMU fleet will replace the existing Corail Intercités trains on the Paris – Clermont – Ferrand and Paris – Orléans – Limoges – Toulouse routes in 2027. The phased roll-out will continue with Bordeaux-Marseille services in 2028 and 2029.
In 2019, SNCF Voyageurs and CAF signed a contract for the supply of 28 Oxygène EMUs and in December 2024, the French operator ordered further 22 trainsets worth EUR 400 million and will operate on Bordeaux – Marseille rail route. The initial contract for Oxygène trains included an option to extend the supply by up to 75 additional trains.
The procurement of Intercités trains is financed by the State, which oversees the TET network (Trains d’Équilibre du Territoire). This network comprises medium- and long-distance trains serving major French cities that are not connected by high-speed rail.
Total investment in 50 Oxygène trainsets worth EUR 1.36 billion and is funded by the French State, which Is the Mobility Organising Authority (MOA) in charge of national development rail services, break down as follows:
- EUR 715 million for 28 trainsets on order for the Paris – Clermont – Ferrand and Paris – Limoges – Toulouse lines;
- EUR 650 million for 22 trainsets to ply the Bordeaux – Marseille line, and provision for maintenance facilities;
- EUR 100 million for developing new maintenance facilities in the Paris Region, at Ivry-sur-Seine and Villeneuve-Saint-Georges depots, and in other parts of France in Clermont-Ferrand and Brive-La-Gaillarde.
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