French National Railways orders additional 18 TGV Duplex
from ALSTOM

The optional order for 18 trainsets and the initial order for
22 trainsets are part of an investment programme being carried
out by the SNCF over several years. In all, the SNCF will have a
fleet of 82 TGV Duplex by 2006. This total includes 30 TGV Duplex
trains already in service in France as well as 12 TGV Duplex
trains currently being built for an earlier order awarded to
ALSTOM in July 1999.

The new trains are to be used to strengthen the SNCFs
high speed service offering in France; they will be used on the
Paris-Lyons line, to complement the 30 TGV Duplex trains
currently in intense service on this line. This order confirms
the success of the double-deck TGV concept, reinforcing ALSTOM's
leadership on the high speed rail transport market. The
double-deck TGV proves its worth as the most cost-effective
transport solution for distances up to 750 km.

The TGV Duplex are manufactured as follows:

• Power car and passenger car bodies and their interiors in
  ALSTOMs industrial facilities in Belfort, Aytré/La
  Rochelle and Reichshoffen (finishing in ANF Industries in
  Crespin),
  FR        
• Bogies in ALSTOMs industrial facilities in Le
  Creusot Unit (and assembly in ANF Industries in Crespin),
  FR        
• Electrical equipment in ALSTOM industrial facilities in
  Tarbes, Villeurbanne and Ornans (FR), Preston (UK) and
  Charleroi (Belgium).

Evolutions in the new TGV Duplex:

• redesign of 'welcome area' for customer service
  personnel     
• improved design of area for passengers with reduced
  mobility     
• wire luggage racks between seats in 1st and 2nd
  classes     
• vertical hand-rail at top of
  stairs     
• new air conditioning equipment throughout the
  train     
• new generation technology for ventilation converters and
  battery chargers

With more than 35 product lines and a presence in over 60
countries, ALSTOM Transport offers cutting-edge products and
services to four distinct types of customers: urban transit
authorities and operators; intercity passenger rail operators and
rolling stock owners; rail freight operators; and intercity
railway infrastructure owners. ALSTOM Transport, with 4.4 billion
euros in sales, has a 17% market share world-wide.

Press relations:

Ruth Pavans, tel. +33 (0)1 41 66 97 16

ruth.pavans@transport.alstom.com

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