photo: Alstom press materials/The First hybrid train in France has done in testing as expected
Rigorous testing and cooperation of SNCF Voyageurs and Alstom brings first French hybrid train. The commercial service is set to start in the second quarter of 2023 in all of the four partner regions.
“The trials of the first Régiolis hybrid train demonstrate that hybridization of diesel trains is a realistic solution, both technically and economically, to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Alstom is particularly proud to contribute with SNCF and the Occitanie, Grand-Est, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Centre-Val-de-Loire regions to a cleaner and more sustainable mobility,” says Jean-Baptiste Eyméoud, President, Alstom France.
The train will be presented at the Alstom site in Reichshoffen and in the Régions de France headquarters in Paris, with the participation of the Occitanie, Grand-Est, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Centre-Val-de-Loire regions.
The electric-diesel-battery regional train project was launched in 2018 by SNCF Group and Alstom with the mobilization and financial help of the above-mentioned regions. The hybridization itself consists of the replacement of half of the diesel engines with energy storage made from lithium-ion batteries.
“In the battle, we are waging on behalf of the Regions to decarbonize TERs, we have chosen to invest in hybrid trains, which are a useful solution for reducing CO2 emissions effectively and quickly. Alongside hydrogen and biofuel, hybrid trains have their rightful place in the mix of technologies we are banking on in our PLANETER program to move away from diesel,” says Christophe Fanichet, CEO of SNCF Voyageurs.
Tests started in 2021. The train was equipped with two energy storage systems and a laboratory coach and sensors to measure the energy flows. A static and dynamic tuning phase at up to 60 km/h took place in Reichshoffen to check the train’s operations and test its hybrid traction mode. Validation and certification tests for speeds up to 160 km/h continued in the Velim test center (Czech Republic). The train performed as expected.