Rolling stock • Block train • High speed train • France • SNCF • TGV-M
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In brief
The TGV M (“M” for modular) is the SNCF’s fifth-generation high-speed passenger train designed and manufactured by Alstom. It has also been ordered by the French private operator Proxima.
Since 1981, the TGV has been revolutionising railway history. The TGV-M is due to be delivered to SNCF in late 2024 / early 2025, bringing a series of innovations. Originally, they were due to be operational for the Paris Olympic Games, but the delivery schedule was seriously disrupted by the 2020 pandemic. Modular, the first trainsets will be used primarily to serve the south-east of France, Paris-Lyon-Marseille-Nice.
According to the SNCF and Alstom, this new generation of trains has come very close, the new interior features 400 different changes compared with the previous generation. The design is the result of a collaboration between the SNCF’s in-house design agency, Arep, and the Japanese studio Nendo.
Including the recent tranche of 15 trains for international services, 115 TGV M trains have now been ordered. It’s a sign of the times that speed is not the main concern for Alstom’s engineers. The real innovation is energy savings. The TGV-M consumes 20% less electricity while accommodating 100 additional passengers, thereby improving the carbon footprint of its passengers.
Several innovations mark a turning point in TGV design, such as a revolutionary element that houses an unprecedented energy storage device. These technological advances have evolved over a decade, from the initial concept of the TGV-M to practical trials on the French rail network in 2023.
Family name: TGV-M
Class: —
Manufacturer(s): Alstom
Train type: Trainsets
Sector: Passengers transport
Type of service: Main line
Operator(s): SNCF (115), Proxima (12)
First services: SNCF 2026, Proxima …
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Train length: Up to 202m
Maximum speed: 320 km/h
Traction system: Alstom IGBT–VVVFPower output8 MW
Electric system(s): 25 kV 50 Hz AC, 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC, 1,500 V DC, 3,000 V DC
Pantograph:, 2 per power car
Braking system(s): Dynamic and Regenerative brake
Track gauge: 1,435 mm
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Formation: 2 power cars + 7 to 9 cars
Seats first class: to be determined
Seat second class: to be determined
Restaurant car: no
Bar car: yes
Total seats: to be determined
The definition of a high-speed train varies by region, but generally, it refers to trains that operate at speeds of at least 250 km/h (155 mph) on newly built lines and 200 km/h (124 mph) on upgraded lines. In Europe, for example, the UIC (International Union of Railways) considers a commercial speed of 250 km/h as the principal criterion for high-speed rail. In the United States, the definition can include trains operating at speeds ranging from 180 km/h (110 mph) to 240 km/h (150 mph).
➤ See the UIC definition
Background and development
In 2015, SNCF launched a tender and selection program to find a partner for designing a new generation of high-speed trains through an “innovation partnership.” On September 7, 2016, SNCF and Alstom signed an agreement to develop and manufacture these trains. The design phase was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017, with the trains expected to enter service in 2022. SNCF set clear objectives: the new trains needed to be at least 20% cheaper to purchase, have lower operational costs, consume 20% less energy, and accommodate more passengers than the TGV Duplex.
To achieve these goals, Alstom streamlined production costs by utilizing standardized components from its Avelia range, a line intended for international sales. This marked a departure from SNCF’s usual practice of commissioning custom-designed TGVs, which increased costs due to bespoke engineering requirements.
By July 2018, with the design finalized, the new model was officially named Avelia Horizon. SNCF placed an order for 100 trainsets at a cost of 2.7 billion euros. Production was set to begin in autumn 2019, with initial tests scheduled for summer 2021 and the first deliveries expected in 2023. The full delivery process would extend until 2033, with the possibility of additional orders. In August 2022, SNCF exercised an option for 15 more trainsets, bringing the total order to 115 units, with deliveries planned until 2036.
In July 2020, Alstom unveiled the first shell of the new TGV, set to be ready for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but this date was never reached due to delivery delays and complex development work. In 2023, testing campaigns took place across France. By 2024, Proxima and Morocco’s national railway signed agreements to acquire additional trainsets, ensuring a long-term future for this high-speed innovation. In March 2025, SNCF finally presented a complete, fully finished trainset, complete with interior design.
Launch
2026? 🟧
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Rolling stock • Block train • High speed train • France • SNCF • Lexical