Alstom to Supply Proxima with 12 Avelia Horizon High-Speed Trains for French Open Access Operations

Alstom, the French multinational rail transport company, has announced a significant agreement to supply 12 Avelia Horizon high-speed trainsets to Proxima, a French open-access high-speed rail operator. The deal, valued at approximately €850 million ($937 million), also includes a 15-year maintenance package. These state-of-the-art double-decker trains are expected to be delivered by 2028 and will operate on the Atlantic lines, competing with other open-access operators like Le Train.

The Avelia Horizon trains represent the latest generation of high-speed rail technology, featuring innovative designs such as shorter power cars and articulated dual-level passenger cars. Alstom emphasized that the new design reduces the number of bogies, addressing common maintenance and reliability issues associated with traditional configurations. The company claims that this layout will lower maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) costs by 30%, making the trains more efficient and cost-effective.

Proxima highlighted its commitment to utilizing France’s existing rail infrastructure and production capabilities. The trains will be entirely designed and manufactured within France, with 10 of Alstom’s 16 French sites contributing to the project. Key sites include Belfort for power cars, La Rochelle for passenger cars and project management, Villeurbanne for control systems, and Le Creusot for bogies. This collaboration underscores France’s industrial strength and Alstom’s role as a leader in sustainable rail solutions.