Euroduplex inaugurates the Rhine-Rhône LGV high-speed rail line

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Euroduplex – the third generation of TGV Duplex – went into service on 11 December 2011 when the SNCF inaugurated the Rhine-Rhone LGV high-speed rail line. Euroduplex is the only double-decker, interoperable high-speed train capable of running on European networks while transporting up to 1,020 passengers (multiple units) at speeds of 320 km/h in total safety. 

Building on the success, quality and reliability of previous generations of Alstom’s high-speed double-decker trains (138 Duplex trainsets already sold), the new Euroduplex trainsets draw on a unique body of experience that helps reduce their cost of acquisition and operation, including maintenance costs. Since they were launched in 1996, these trains have travelled nearly 500 million kilometres without a major incident. On the strength of these results, Euroduplex offers the best operating costs per corridor and the highest return per seat.

There are a number of technical developments in this new generation that meet new needs in terms of interoperability, passenger comfort, operations and the overall cost of acquisition.

Intended for use on the French, German, Swiss and Luxembourgish rail networks, Euroduplex trains use signalling systems that is compatible with all these European networks and are equipped with traction systems compatible with the voltages used in Europe. Some of these trains can also run in Spain. The TGV Duplex trains sold in Morocco are based on the same technology platform.

When it comes to comfort, a major effort has gone into passenger information systems:

• new external displays placed near each door make it easier to read the car number, train number and destination.
• on-board screens display in several languages the names of the stations along the route and the final destination, as well as information on the journey (time, geolocation and train speed)
• seats are equipped with digital reservation displays indicating the sections of the journey for which they are occupied.

Staff can issue announcements from control consoles to keep passengers informed during the trip. These messages are replicated on-screen for the hearing impaired.

Accessibility has been optimised for people with reduced mobility (PRM). 50 specially-outfitted areas – accounting for over 10% of the total capacity of the trains (509 seats) – are reserved for PRM. Wheelchair-user areas are larger (especially the toilets) and wide aisles make it easy to move around on board.

The ground-to-train connection systems also offer new prospects for communication by:

• disseminating information on train connections,
• updating the train’s occupancy map after departure
• alerting ground crews about a malfunction for immediate remedial work

Passenger safety on these new trains has also been enhanced;

• the trains are designed for video surveillance equipment,
• in compliance with the most stringent fire safety requirements, trains that run in Spain will have fire doors installed in gangways and cabins, and fire detection systems have been introduced in new areas such as the toilets, nurseries, luggage areas, electrical cabinets and machinery areas.

A total of 55 trainsets were commissioned from Alstom by the SNCF in June 2007. The first have already been delivered, and the entire fleet will be ready for delivery by 2014.

The Euroduplex is designed and assembled at Alstom sites: the passenger cars in La Rochelle, the locomotives in Belfort and the end cars in Reichshoffen. Other Alstom sites involved in the manufacture of rolling stock include Ornans for the traction systems, Le Creusot for the bogies, Tarbes for the electrical units and traction equipment, Villeurbanne for the electronic control systems, Montreal for passenger information systems, and Charleroi for auxiliary inverters. A total of 1,500 people work daily at these sites to further high-speed rail. The project’s main French suppliers are Faiveley Transport, Alstom GRID Logitrade, COMECA, CEIT, TFCM and Association Bretagne Atelier. Together with other SME manufacturers in the French rail sector, they employ some 6,000 people in France.

Alstom Transport, generating sustainable mobility 

Alstom Transport develops and offers the most complete range of products and services for the rail industry, from rolling stock and signalling systems to infrastructure, services and turnkey solutions. Alstom Transport is present in over 60 countries with 25,500 employees and has announced sales of €5.6 billion for the year 2010/2011. With 8,500 employees across nine sites in France, Alstom Transport is the leading French rail manufacturing company and makes a major contribution to the vitality of local economies. One job at Alstom generates around three jobs for its suppliers. Alstom Transport people in France have the skills and know-how to serve both French and international clients.

An historic high-speed rail enterprise, Alstom offers its customers the broadest range of proven high-speed train configurations, all designed to carry passengers at high speeds (up to 360 km/h) in comfort and safety.
These include articulated and non-articulated trains, tilting technology, single- and double-decker architectures, and concentrated or distributed power systems.

Since they were launched in 1981, Alstom has sold nearly 670 high-speed trains around the world, comprising two thirds of all trains currently operating at over 300 km/h. In 30 years, the company has broken three world records for rail speed: 380 km/h in 1981, 515.3 km/h in 1990 and 574.8 km/h in 2007.

About the Rhine-Rhone LGV 

Owned by Réseau Ferré de France, which led the construction of its first phase – the 140 km line between Villers-les-Pots (east of Dijon) to Petit-Croix (north-east of Belfort) - Rhine-Rhone LGV infrastructure stands at the leading edge of European rail technology. A symbol of excellence in French rail know-how, this line has already been tested at speeds of over 350 km/h. It was inaugurated on 8 September by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Alstom makes the Rhine-Rhone LGV even safer 

In 2008, RFF awarded a contract to Alstom and its partners INEXIA and Legrand SA for studies and installation works and the supply of signalling systems for the Rhine-Rhone LGV to ensure the safety of highspeed traffic. Alstom has created sixty jobs in the Burgundy and Franche-Comté regions within this contract (fifty electricians and a dozen project management support positions) as well as 15 apprenticeships for young people to receive training, in partnership with AFPA, the French national association for adult training.
Twenty regional subcontractors are also involved in the project.

Press Contacts : 

Alstom Transport : 

Karen Brouiller- Tel + 33 (0)1 57 06 18 42 – karen.brouiller@transport.alstom.com 

Site internet : 

www.alstom.com/transport