Bourgogne-Franche-Comte Strengthens Accessibility with 14 New CAF Coradia Polyvalent Trains – Travel And Tour World

France’s Bourgogne-Franche-Comte breaking new ground in upgrading its regional rail services with a further 14 Coradia Polyvalent trains from CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) and Alstom. This order will complement the region’s current fleet of 48 trains to provide increased flexibility, accessibility and capacity on the regional rail network a central component of sustainable transport in one of France’s primary transportation hubs.

The new fleet will comprise two different train designs, to cater different requirements on the region’s railways. Five of the trains will be electric inter city services, while nine will be bi-mode (electric and non-electrified) TER services. The bi-mode trains will provide the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region with greater flexibility in terms of the infrastructure for the Bi-Mode trains will be able to operate on lines which are both electrified and non-electrified and will be suited to regional routes across a number of various lines.

Meeting Regional Travel Demands

The new Coradia Polyvalent trains are due to provide a more comfortable passenger exprience for those on regional services and to accommodate increasing passenger numbers. Intercités trains are used to operate long-distance regional services and the agreement between the two companies will create a significant enhancement in the country’s transport system, as each set can accommodate 355 people across six cars. These trains will be equipped with modern facilities of power, comfortable seating and close vestibules, which will help in ensuring smooth and comfortable ride for passengers as well easy movement of the disabled.

The 9 bi-mode TER trains will be composed of 4 carriages with 228 seats, designed for short and medium distance regional travel. These are bi-mode trains that are designed to operate effectively under electric current as well as non electrified conditions, hence would be ideal for areas that are more rural or less electrified in the Bourgogne Franche Comte region. The capacity for trains to move effortlessly between various power supplies will empower the region’s rail network to be both efficacious and versatile, enabling better customer service and increased capacity even where no overhead electrification is present.

Emphasis on Accessibility and Passenger Comfort

The new trains have been designed with accessibility as a major focus. Every carriage will have internal vestibules and larger toilets and other facilities to make it easier for the less mobile to travel. This new focus on inclusivity is part of a wider initiative aimed at improving the accessibility of the entire French rail network and demonstrates a shift towards more inclusive and age friendly travel. The purchase of these trains proves the region’s commitment to a modern, environmentally-sensitive, and convenient transportation system for its citizens and visitors alike.

The inside of the new trains also improve the user experience overall. Passengers can look forward to indirect LED lighting, large windows with a great view of the passing countryside and generous legroom in the comfortable seats. Passengers will also have power plugs and reading lights at their seats, offering travelers everything they will need for comfortable and productive travel. Such high degree attention to design is tailored to enhance the comfort and convenience of train travel for all ages.

Supporting Sustainable Mobility

The Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is aiming for a cleaner rail system, and the new trains are just one aspect of the larger European Union push to reduce carbon emissions and make travel greener. The replacement of the regional fleet with lower carbon energy trains that could operate on an electric line and non electrified route means that the region is ensuring the future of rail travel is even cleaner and greener for passengers than ever before, compared to car and plane.

In particular, bi-mode trains have an important role to play in this move, as they ensure an efficient service in the region, even in zones where the electrification system is not presently implemented. Such a high degree of flexibility is essential if we want the region to be able to run decent train services throughout the whole area; some of that area being heavily electrified urban agglomerations, others being rather remote countryside where the main grid has not been extended yet.

Enhancing Connectivity Across Regions

Un des objectifs majeurs de cet ordre de train est d’améliorer la connectivité régionale au sein de la Bourgogne Franche Comte et avec les régions voisines. The new trains will boost regional services across the area, as well as increasing the frequency and speed of connections with the rest of France’s larger rail network. This will contribute to more closely linking Bourgogne Franche Comte with the whole of the European transport system, facilitating passenger travel between cities, regions and countries.

The new fleet of trains will help to further ease road congestion and support public transport as an environmentally friendly and viable mode of transport. Promoting the train over the private car thanks to efficient and comfortable train services, Bourgogne Franche Comte aims to reduce pollution, improve traffic conditions, and make its transportation system sustainable in the long term.

Partnership with CAF and Alstom

The Bourgogne Franche Comté region already has a longstanding relationship with CAF, whose Coradia Polyvalent trains it operates. The region has seen many trains delivered by the company in recent years, and this order will be another sign of how the region is being prepared for the future for its rail network. The construction of these units in CAF’s plant in Reichshoffen, Alsace, has been a priority from the beginning inasmuch that the plant has been considered as a main element on our policy to build good and reliable trains for the region.

Alstom, a world leader in rail transport, has also made a vital contribution to the order. The collaboration between CAF and Alstom has enabled cutting edge technology to be a mainstay of the trains, meaning the new units are emission friendly and passenger centric. The companies will work together to help the Bourgogne Franche Comté region expand its rail infrastructure, delivering high-capacity, comfortable and sustainable train services for many years to come.

Looking Ahead: Strengthening Regional Mobility

The arrival of these new Coradia Polyvalent trains is a major leap forward for the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region in its effort to modernize its regional transportation system. This is an investment which not only improves the quality and performance of our train services it also puts our region at the forefront of environmentally-friendly transport for France and Europe. With the long-term upgrade of the rail network in the region well underway, customers can also expect to travel by train in even greater comfort, and with better access and more environmentally friendly.

(Source: France Railway Authority.)