Alstom has received an additional order for 15 new-generation Avelia Horizon very high-speed trains from SNCF1 Voyageurs. The optional agreement is valued at €590m (US$590m). The Horizon is comprised of two short-length, high-performance, compact-power cars and articulated double-deck cocaches.
The trains ordered are the new generation 4-voltage high-speed trains, which meet the requirements of European traffic.Their design allows for a 20% increase in passenger capacity, enabling the train to accommodate up to 740 passengers.
“This solution meets the technological, economic and competitive challenges of SNCF, in an environment of strong passenger demand for low-carbon mobility solutions," said Jean-Baptiste Eyméoud, president of Alstom France. Maintenance costs will be over 30% lower than those currently recorded by SNCF Voyageurs in France.
The train's in-built diagnostic system allows for predictive maintenance, and the updated aerodynamics of the body will consume 20 percent less energy than the current generation.