Alstom Secures €600 Million Avelia Horizon Order as SNCF Voyageurs Expands High-Speed Fleet

The 15 new Avelia Horizon trains ordered by SNCF Voyageurs will operate in Europe from 2029 onwards (Non-contractual design for illustrative purposes © ALSTOM SA 2026. Advanced & Creative Design | Avelia Horizon™)

(IN BRIEF) Alstom has received an additional order from SNCF Voyageurs for 15 Avelia Horizon very high-speed trains valued at approximately €600 million, as part of the existing framework agreement between the two companies. The quad-voltage trains, designed for European cross-border operations, will be delivered from 2029 and bring the total number of Avelia Horizon trains covered by the contract to 160, including units ordered by SNCF Voyageurs and Eurostar. Featuring double-decker capacity, predictive maintenance systems, and energy consumption around 20 percent lower than current fleets, the Avelia Horizon supports competitiveness, operational efficiency, and the transition to sustainable high-speed rail across Europe.

(PRESS RELEASE) SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, 19-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Alstom has secured an additional order from SNCF Voyageurs for 15 new-generation Avelia Horizon very high-speed trains, representing an investment of approximately €600 million. Approved by the Board of Directors of SNCF Voyageurs on 19 January 2026, this optional tranche forms part of the existing Avelia Horizon Innovation Partnership framework and supports the expansion of high-speed rail services across Europe, with deliveries expected from 2029.

The newly ordered trains are the quad-voltage version of the Avelia Horizon platform, designed to meet European cross-border operating requirements. They support SNCF Voyageurs’ objectives to strengthen competitiveness in the rail sector while improving profitability through a high-capacity, energy-efficient fleet capable of seamless operation across multiple European networks.

This order represents the fourth optional tranche under the Avelia Horizon framework agreement between Alstom and SNCF Voyageurs. It complements the 115 trains already ordered by SNCF Voyageurs, including 100 for domestic services in France and 15 for European operations, as well as the 30 Avelia Horizon trains ordered by Eurostar in October 2025. With this latest tranche, the total number of trains covered by the contract now reaches 160 units.

The Avelia Horizon platform is designed as a next-generation, eco-efficient high-speed rail solution, combining two compact, high-performance power cars with articulated double-decker passenger coaches. Maintenance costs are expected to be more than 30 percent lower than those of current high-speed fleets operated by SNCF Voyageurs in France, supported by predictive maintenance enabled through remote diagnostic systems and optimized components that allow longer intervals between maintenance operations.

Energy efficiency is a key feature of the new-generation train. Thanks to its aerodynamic design and more efficient traction systems, the Avelia Horizon is expected to consume around 20 percent less energy than existing TGV fleets, reinforcing the shift toward sustainable, low-carbon mobility at a time when passengers increasingly favor environmentally responsible transport options.

The project will involve ten of Alstom’s fourteen industrial sites in France, highlighting the company’s extensive domestic manufacturing footprint. Power cars will be produced in Belfort, passenger cars in La Rochelle, control-command systems and onboard equipment in Villeurbanne, motors in Ornans, bogies in Le Creusot, traction and electrical cabinets in Tarbes, electrical circuits in Toulouse, transformers in Petit-Quevilly, design and signalling in Saint-Ouen, and interiors in Valenciennes.

With more than 40 years of experience in commercial high-speed rail service, Alstom’s Avelia Horizon remains the only double-decker train worldwide capable of operating at speeds above 300 km/h. The platform offers high operational flexibility, robust safety standards, and an enhanced passenger experience, positioning it as a cornerstone of Europe’s future high-speed rail network.

SOURCE: ALSTOM