photo: Région Occitanie/The battery-powered regional train in the Occitanie region
France now has its first two battery-powered regional trains carrying passengers, with services launched in the Sud and Occitanie regions. Converted from existing AGC trains, the units can cover more than 80 kilometres on battery power, which allows them to operate on non-electrified lines without diesel engines.
According to Alstom, France has put its first two battery-powered TER regional trains into commercial service as part of a €41 million programme involving five regions, SNCF Voyageurs and Alstom. The first train began carrying passengers between Avignon and Carpentras in the Sud Region on 28 July. A second entered service on the Nîmes–Vauvert line in Occitanie on 31 August.
Rather than ordering an entirely new fleet, the partners converted existing high-capacity AGC regional trains. Their diesel engines have been removed and replaced with lithium-ion batteries, giving the vehicles a battery range of more than 80 kilometres.
Battery Train Starts Running Between Nîmes and Vauvert
Occitanie launched its first battery-powered liO train on the Nîmes–Vauvert route on 31 August. As the region is now testing three different alternatives to conventional diesel regional trains, this trial seems to be happening at the right time.
Occitanie has already trialled a trimode Régiolis capable of running on electric power, diesel and batteries around Toulouse. Hydrogen-powered Régiolis trains are also planned for the Montréjeau–Luchon line, which makes Occitanie the first French region to test hybrid, battery and hydrogen technology in effort to reduce diesel use on regional railways.
The region is also adding two return journeys on weekdays to the Nîmes–Vauvert timetable. Carole Delga, President of the Occitanie Region, said the project was intended to combine cleaner technology with a practical improvement in regional services.
"With hybrid, battery-powered and soon, hydrogen-powered trains, Occitanie is the only French region to be testing three technologies to reduce the use of diesel in our regional trains," she said.
Avignon–Carpentras Train Switches from Wires to Batteries
The Sud Region has already been running its first battery-powered train commercially since 28 July. On the Avignon–Carpentras route, the train uses the overhead line where electrification is available. At Sorgues station, it switches to its batteries for the non-electrified section towards Carpentras.
This is one of the main uses being tested by the programme: keeping electric trains running beyond the end of the overhead wires without turning to diesel. For routes where complete electrification would be expensive or difficult to justify, battery operation could provide another option.
Renaud Muselier, President of the Sud Region, described the train as a practical way of reducing emissions without changing the level of service offered to passengers. "With this first battery-powered train, the Sud Region is turning innovation into a reality for the benefit of passengers and our regions," he said.
Old Diesel Engines Make Way for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Both trains were created by converting existing AGC units rather than building new rolling stock from scratch. Alstom replaced the diesel power equipment with lithium-ion batteries while retaining the trains’ ability to draw electricity from overhead lines. The batteries provide a range of more than 80 kilometres. The trains also recover energy during braking and store it for later use, which Alstom says can reduce energy consumption by up to 20%.
There are passenger benefits, too. Removing the diesel engines makes the trains quieter, particularly when operating on sections without overhead electrification. The idea is now being tested under everyday conditions rather than on a closed test track. The operators will be able to see how battery range, charging, reliability and energy consumption perform across regular passenger services.
€41 Million Programme Covers Five French Regions
The two trains form part of a national programme involving Occitanie, the Sud Region, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Hauts-de-France and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. SNCF Voyageurs and Alstom are also participating. Of €41 million invested, €30 million comes from the five participating regions, €6 million from SNCF Voyageurs and €5.5 million from Alstom.
The first two commercial deployments will help determine where battery operation makes sense on France’s remaining non-electrified regional routes. Frédéric Wiscart, President of Alstom’s France BeLux region, said converting existing trains also shows that decarbonisation does not necessarily require replacing an entire fleet.