New features, major changes
The new features of the TGV M, as well as its technical specifications, are different from those of the current fleet, leading SNCF Voyageurs to deploy an operating program involving all the Group's players.
All TGV operating processes need to be modified, whether related to driving, traffic supervision, train preparation in stations, or parking, depots, and cleaning. This is linked, for example, to the fact that the TGV M will have 9 passenger cars instead of 8 like the current TGVs. Or to the fact that the majority of the interfaces in the driver's cab have been digitized.
Major investments have been made in the TGV maintenance Technicenters to make their facilities compatible with the TGV M and to install automated maintenance benches that can check several hundred parts of a train in a few seconds.
And in these Technicenters, the new predictive maintenance concepts, based on the use of the thousands of data from the TGV M, promise to bring TGV maintenance into a new era. The technical data will provide clear, reliable, and high-value-added information, making it possible to anticipate breakdowns indoors, air conditioning systems, and, in general, all the systems that contribute to training operation and passenger comfort.
A detailed analysis of the compatibility of the TGV M with the network and stations is being carried out throughout France. It consists of ensuring that the new train is properly registered at all points on the network and in all stations. This analysis is used to identify the adaptation work that needs to be carried out, the procedures that need to be modified, and the changes that need to be made in terms of passenger flow management.
For example, the surveys already carried out in nearly 70 stations show the need to move stop signs to make it easier for drivers to see the signals when the trains are on the platform. This is linked to the nose of the TGV, which has been lengthened to make it more aerodynamic.
A vast project is underway on digital and information systems. This is important because the TGV M is hyper-connected and customers' uses are increasingly oriented toward digital systems. It consists of proposing and implementing appropriate digital solutions and supports to meet customer needs and improve efficiency in all areas.
For example, attendants will have an application that tells them in real time the operating status of all the elements that contribute to the comfort of customers. The WIFI architecture on board the train will comply with the latest 5G standard, to deliver a high-quality service. And various digital applications will be developed in particular to optimize traction energy consumption, by adapting driving instructions in real-time to the speed of the train and the profile of the route.
The arrival of the TGV M will bring about changes in the SNCF's "business processes". It is therefore essential to pay the utmost attention to the SNCF employees affected by these changes. The operational program includes an essential section on training and skills upgrading for all staff so that they can all be helped to make the new training their own.