Le Train has announced that preparations for the launch of its commercial operations are progressing according to plan, with an expected start date in 2028.
Despite rumours of the order being cancelled, the company maintains its commitment to the acquisition of ten Talgo Avril trainsets, originally announced in January 2023. This marks Talgo’s first sale of a very high-speed train to a European customer outside Spain.
According to Le Train, 70% of the certification process in France has already been completed. The company is calling for France’s regulatory system to be modernised in order to foster greater openness and competition in the railway sector.
The train’s interior layout remains undisclosed, but Le Train promises the most comfortable seating in the French railway system, suggesting significant differences from Renfe’s Series 106 trains.
At the same time, the company is advancing with the construction of its central maintenance workshop in the Grand Ouest region, which it describes as a symbol of industrial independence, as it will not rely on SNCF facilities. The site is designed to host training, innovation, and employment opportunities, allowing Le Train to carry out full maintenance in-house and strengthen the reliability of its operations.
Beyond open access services, Le Train is also taking part in tendering procedures for PSO regional routes, TET (Intercités) lines such as Nantes–Lyon and Nantes–Bordeaux, and night train services.