Overview
- Industry outlet Ville Rail & Transports reported Monday that the first TGV M trains are now slated for September, replacing a July debut.
- SNCF and Alstom say they will fix a start date only after the European Railway Agency and France’s rail safety body grant market authorization.
- The company had targeted July 1 for four double‑deck trainsets on the Paris–Lyon–Marseille route, and VRT says July could be used for trial running before passenger service.
- A VRT-cited Alstom internal plan points to six trainsets delivered in September rather than four in July, signaling a tighter production and rollout schedule.
- The delay matters because each TGV M adds roughly 700 seats versus about 500 today, and experts warn the pushback will keep summer trains crowded and prices high while older sets undergo life‑extension work and some new units are earmarked for Italy from 2027.