SNCF launches inaugural double-deck TGV Inoui on Paris-Marseille route
SNCF will operate the first commercial run of its new double-deck TGV Inoui on the Paris-Marseille line, with senior executives and the transport minister on board.
SNCF announced that the inaugural commercial journey of its new double-deck TGV Inoui will take place on a Friday along the Paris-Marseille high-speed line. The event will be attended by group chief executive Jean Castex, SNCF Voyageurs general manager Jean-Aimé Mougenot, TGV-Intercités director Karine Dussert-Sarthe, and transport minister Philippe Tabarot. Built by Alstom under the internal name TGV M and marketed as TGV Avelia, the train features two levels with 740 seats per car, allowing more than 1,400 passengers when two units are coupled, a capacity increase of about 20 % over its predecessor.
Its aerodynamic nose reduces energy use by 20 % and cuts CO2 emissions by 32 %. SNCF has placed orders for roughly 160 of these trains since 2018, with deliveries delayed from the 2024 Olympic timetable to 2026 after a series of technical and contractual issues. The inaugural run follows extensive full-scale testing earlier this year.
Why it matters
The launch showcases a major upgrade to France's high-speed rail, offering higher capacity and lower emissions.
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