Alstom Celebrates Entry Into Service of France’s First Two Battery-Powered Regional Trains

The first battery-powered regional rain to enter service in Occitanie, photographed on 31 August 2026 at Nîmes-Centre station (Copyright: Fabienne Boccard – Alstom S.A. 2026)

(IN BRIEF) Alstom, SNCF Voyageurs and five French regions have begun commercial operation of France’s first two battery-powered regional trains as part of a national programme worth more than €41 million. Occitanie’s first battery train entered service on the Nîmes–Vauvert line on 31 August 2026, while the Sud Region has operated its first battery train between Avignon and Carpentras since 28 July. Converted from existing AGC railcars, the trains replace diesel engines with lithium-ion batteries, provide a range of more than 80 kilometres, recover braking energy and can deliver energy savings of up to 20%. The trials will assess battery technology under real operating conditions and help determine how it could be deployed more widely across France’s non-electrified regional rail network.

(PRESS RELEASE) SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, 2-Sep-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Alstom is celebrating the commercial launch of France’s first two battery-powered regional trains, with services now operating in the Occitanie and Sud regions as part of a national €41 million programme to test battery-powered rail technology on non-electrified regional lines.

Occitanie’s first battery-powered train entered commercial service on 31 August 2026 on the Nîmes–Vauvert line, while the Sud Region’s first train has been operating since 28 July 2026 between Avignon and Carpentras.

The two launches form part of a national programme involving five French regions — Occitanie, Sud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Hauts-de-France and Nouvelle-Aquitaine — together with SNCF Voyageurs and Alstom.

The programme is designed to evaluate the first generation of battery-powered regional rolling stock under real operating conditions and assess the potential for wider deployment across non-electrified lines.

Frédéric Wiscart, President of the France BeLux region at Alstom, said the introduction of the two trains represents an important step towards more sustainable rail solutions.

He said the project demonstrates that existing rolling stock can be transformed and modernised to reduce its environmental footprint while continuing to meet passengers’ mobility needs.

Occitanie launches battery-powered train on Nîmes–Vauvert line

Occitanie’s battery-powered liO train entered service on 31 August following a launch attended by Jean-Luc Gibelin, Vice-President of the Occitanie Region responsible for Mobility and Transport Infrastructure, representing Regional President Carole Delga; Gaël Barbier, Regional Director of SNCF Voyageurs Occitanie; and Olivier Delecroix, Vice-President Marketing and Sales at Alstom France.

The prototype is intended to help decarbonise transport on non-electrified routes while strengthening regional rail services.

Occitanie is already testing a trimode Régiolis hybrid train, capable of operating with electric, diesel and battery power, on the Toulouse rail network.

The region is also preparing to introduce hydrogen-powered Régiolis trains on the Montréjeau–Luchon line.

As a result, Occitanie is the first French region to test three different technologies aimed at reducing diesel use in regional rail: hybrid, battery and hydrogen.

Carole Delga said the region’s rail strategy combines technological innovation with expansion of public transport services.

On the Nîmes–Vauvert line, the introduction of the battery-powered train will be accompanied by two additional return journeys on weekdays.

Battery operation connects Avignon and Carpentras

The Sud Region’s first battery-powered train has been operating commercially between Avignon and Carpentras since 28 July.

Operated by SNCF Voyageurs TER Sud, the train uses electric power on sections equipped with overhead lines before switching to battery power at Sorgues station.

It then operates on batteries to Carpentras across the non-electrified section of the route.

The Sud Region said the technology supports its strategy to transform regional rail transport by providing a practical decarbonisation option for routes that are not fully electrified.

Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and Deputy President of Régions de France, said the project turns innovation into a practical solution for passengers while reducing CO₂ emissions and maintaining service quality.

Existing trains converted from diesel to lithium-ion battery power

The two battery-powered regional trains were created by converting existing high-capacity AGC railcars.

Their diesel engines were replaced with lithium-ion batteries, giving the trains a battery range of more than 80 kilometres.

Energy generated during braking is recovered and stored in the batteries, enabling energy savings of up to 20%.

Alstom said the converted trains are more energy-efficient than the previous rolling stock and produce no direct CO₂ emissions while operating on battery power.

Passengers also benefit from quieter operation compared with diesel-powered trains.

The trials are intended to provide real-world data on battery performance and help determine the technical and operational conditions required for wider deployment of the technology on non-electrified regional lines.

€41 million programme backed by five French regions

The battery-powered regional train programme represents an investment of more than €41 million.

The five participating regions are providing €30 million, while SNCF Voyageurs is contributing €6 million and Alstom €5.5 million.

The programme brings together public authorities, rail operators and industry to explore lower-emission alternatives to diesel traction without requiring full electrification of every regional route.

Gaël Barbier, Regional Director of SNCF Voyageurs TER Occitanie, said the battery-powered train allows services on the non-electrified section of the Nîmes–Vauvert line to operate without diesel and associated direct CO₂ emissions.

He added that the extra weekday services will support the strong growth in liO passenger traffic.

Delphine Couzi, Regional Director of SNCF Voyageurs Sud and Regional Coordinator of the SNCF Group, said the programme demonstrates how innovation can accelerate the rail sector’s environmental transition while maintaining passenger service quality.

She said the commercial deployment of the train is helping pave the way for regional rail transport that is more efficient, lower in carbon emissions and better adapted to local needs.

Media Contact:

Southeast France
Fabienne Boccard
fabienne.boccard@alstomgroup.com

Belgium & Luxemburg
Mattias Baertsoen
mattias.baertsoen@alstomgroup.com

SOURCE: Alstom