The Oxygène Z 26700 (previously known as the Confort200) is a high speed, electric multiple unit, passenger train under construction by CAF, for SNCF for use on their Intercités services. The trains will serve the Paris-Clermont Ferrand and Paris-Limoges-Toulouse lines, and is planned for entry into service in 2027.[1][2]
| SNCF Oxygène | |
|---|---|
 Presentation of train design at Clermont-Ferrand station | |
| Stock type | Electric multiple unit |
| Manufacturer | CAF |
| Assembly | Reichshoffen, France Beasain, Spain |
| Number under construction | 28 |
| Formation | 10 cars |
| Capacity | 420 seats (1st class: 103, 2nd class: 317) |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium |
| Train length | 188 metres (617 ft) |
| Width | 2.86 metres (9.4 ft) |
| Height | 4.26 metres (14.0 ft) |
| Floor height | 630 mm (25 in) (low floor car) |
| Maximum speed | 200 km/h (125 mph) |
| Weight | 365 t (359 long tons; 402 short tons) |
| Traction motors | Asynchronous |
| Power output | 4 MW (5,400 hp) |
| Electric system(s) | |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| Safety system(s) | ETCS, KVB |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
History
editIn 2010, an agreement was signed between SNCF and the French government to support the Intercités service, troubled with low profitability.[3] In 2012, owing to the potential cost of replacing the Corail rolling stock on Intercités services, refurbishment of TGV Sud-Est sets was considered, for service at a lower speed.[3][4]
The order, worth €700 million, for 28 trainsets, with options for 75 more (including 20 which could be used on a Bordeaux-Marseille service), was placed in December 2019 and funded by the French government.[1][5][6]
The choice of CAF, a Spanish company, over the French Alstom, was controversial among some local elected officials and unions.[7]
It was initially planned to be built at Bagnères-de-Bigorre, France, and Beasain, Spain.[8] CAF later took over Alstom's Reichshoffen site (along with the Coradia Polyvalent platform and Bombardier's Talent 3 platform) in the process of the latter's acquisition of Bombardier Transportation.[9] It was later confirmed the first 8 trainsets will be built at CAF's Beasain plant in Spain, with the rest at their site in Reichshoffen, Alsace, France.[6]
Testing was started in July 2023 at the Velim test track in the Czech Republic, for tests up to 200 km/h.[10]
Introduction into service was initially planned for 2025.[10] This was however delayed to Q1 2027, due to faults, involving excessive brake pad wear, and vibrations caused by failure of traction motors (since resolved).[11] Traction motors were sent back to Mitsubishi Electric in Japan, for review.[2] Homologation testing on the French network will begin in February 2026, including on planned operational routes.[12][13]
Design
editThe 10-car articulated 188 m train sets will be able to run at a maximum speed of 200 km/h in service. Trains will have WiFi, power outlets and USB ports at all seats. There will be spaces for 10 bicycles in each train set.[1]
Each 10 car trainset will be designed to be split in two for easier maintenance. Distributed traction will be provided in the form of asynchronous motors on the end cars and 2 centre cars, with a continuous power rating of 4 MW.[14]
Trains will be fitted to work both 25kV 50Hz AC and 1.5kV DC lines. There will be capacity for 420 passengers (equivalent roughly to 7 Corail coaches - 103 in first class, and 317 in second class).[2]
Boarding height will be 630 mm above rail height on low floor cars to allow for better accessibility, in addition to wide gangways.[14]
Trains are equipped with ETCS and KVB, the train protection system used in France.[6]
CAF selected Mitsubishi Electric to supply traction motors for the order in 2022, following delivery of prototype main transformers in 2017, which were used for a Z 2N commuter train and T4 tram-train operating in Paris.[15] The traction systems involve roof-mounted converters and inverters with natural air cooling.[16]
Service
editThe new trains will allow for the addition of another return service each day on the routes planned. Time savings of 15 minutes from the journey time to the Paris – Clermont-Ferrand and Paris – Limoges service are expected, with journey times of 3h15min and 2h51min respectively.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Railway builder CAF named preferred bidder for new Intercités trains order" (PDF). Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles. SNCF. 2019-09-18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- ^ a b c Preston, Robert (2024-05-21). "Introduction of SNCF's new Oxgène inter-city fleet delayed to 2027". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21.
- ^ a b "La SNCF veut remplacer les trains Intercités par des TGV à petite vitesse" [SNCF wants to replace Intercités trains with low-speed TGVs]. Challenges (in French). 2012-10-10. Archived from the original on 2023-11-29.
- ^ Steinmann, Lionel (2013-01-15). "Bientôt de vieux TGV pour remplacer les trains Corail" [Soon old TGVs to replace Corail trains]. Les Echos (in French). Archived from the original on 2023-09-28.
- ^ Railway-News (2019-09-19). "SNCF Chooses CAF for New Intercity Trains". Railway-News. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ a b c d "Oxygène next-generation French inter-city train unveiled". Railway Gazette International.
- ^ Guérin, Jean-Yves (2019-09-18). "SNCF: CAF sélectionné face à Alstom pour fournir 28 trains Intercités" [SNCF: CAF selected against Alstom to supply 28 Intercités trains]. Le Figaro (in French). Archived from the original on 2024-05-03.
- ^ "CAF secures order from SNCF for Intercity trains". RailTech.com. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- ^ "Alstom completes divestment of its Coradia Polyvalent platform, its Reichshoffen production site in France and its TALENT 3 platform, currently developed in Hennigsdorf, Germany to CAF". Alstom. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- ^ a b "First of SNCF's Oxygène inter-city trains heads for testing". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- ^ Alexey, Stolchnev; Olga, Yashchenko (2024-05-20). "Regional Oxygene EMUs for France delayed for four years by CAF". RollingStockWorld. Archived from the original on 2024-05-22.
- ^ "CAF and SNCF Voyageurs continue to test OXYGENE trains". RailMarket. 2024-05-21.
- ^ "CAF poursuit avec SNCF Voyageurs les essais dynamiques du premier train OXYGENE" [CAF continues dynamic testing of the first OXYGENE train with SNCF Voyageurs] (PDF). SNCF (in French). 2024-05-14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-05-16.
- ^ a b Hughes, Murray (2021-01-08). "France: Confort 200 to trim trip times on two routes". Railway Gazette International.
- ^ Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric. "Mitsubishi Electric – News Releases Mitsubishi Electric Makes First Delivery of Traction Systems for French National Railway Operator SNCF Voyageurs". Mitsubishi Electric – Global Website. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
- ^ "Japanese traction package to equip French inter-city trains". International Railway Journal. 2022-02-10.