Euroduplex
| Company type | Product / Train model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Alstom |
| Headquarters | France |
Area served | Europe, Morocco |
| Products | High-speed trains (double-decker) |
| Parent | Alstom |
Avelia Euroduplex, frequently referred to as Euroduplex or TGV 2N2 within France, is a high-speed double-decker train developed by Alstom. This train is mainly operated by the French national railway operator SNCF and also by Morocco’s national rail company ONCF. It constitutes the third iteration in the TGV Duplex family.
Designed for cross-border operations, Euroduplex trains are compatible with various European countries’ electrification and signalling standards. The Moroccan version, called Al Boraq, holds the distinction of being Africa’s inaugural high-speed rail service.
Description
The Euroduplex series builds upon the TGV Duplex Dasye platform, preserving essential elements such as asynchronous traction motors and the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) for signaling. Its trailers incorporate upgraded passenger information technologies, while the 3UFC variant features revamped interiors with swivel seats and USB charging ports.
Notable enhancements compared to the original TGV Duplex Dasye include:
- Compliance with UIC loading gauge offering increased ceiling height on the upper deck
- Enlarged and improved window designs
- Passenger Information System (SIVE) enhanced with audio announcements
- External dynamic lighting displaying train number, route details, and carriage identification
- Fixed gap fillers on all doorways
- Redundant sensors monitoring hot box conditions on axles
- Advanced axle monitoring systems
- Improved accessibility for wheelchair users
The 3UFC model introduces:
- Newly designed seating arrangements in both first and second class
- Rotatable seats in first class
- USB charging outlets at each seat
- Individual lighting for every passenger seat
History
Following the success of the TGV Duplex, Alstom engineered the tricurrent Euroduplex capable of operating under 15 kV 16⅔ Hz electrification, facilitating cross-border interoperability. The Euroduplex officially commenced commercial operations with SNCF on 11 December 2011.
Concurrently, Alstom secured a contract to deliver Morocco’s first high-speed train service, marking a milestone as Africa’s entry into high-speed rail transport.
SNCF
In June 2007, SNCF placed an order for 55 Alstom tricurrent high-speed TGV 2N2 trains alongside additional TGV Dasye units.
The fleet composition is as follows:
- 30 "3UA" tricurrent units (numbers 4701-4730), intended for France-Germany-Switzerland routes; prototypes underwent testing from August 2010, with deliveries completed by 2014
- 10 "3UH" bicurrent trains (801-810), designated for France-Spain services; delivered starting in 2013
- 15 "3UF" bicurrent units (811-825), assigned to domestic French routes; deliveries began in 2014
- A "3UA" power reserve compatible with these trains and earlier models
The initial RGV unit (4701) was tested in April 2010, followed by comprehensive trials across Europe prior to entering commercial service. The first official delivery took place on 30 May 2011 on the LGV Est line.
SNCF exercised an option to acquire an additional 40 trains under the original agreement. These second-generation Euroduplex trains, designated "3UFC" ("C" representing capacity) and named "Océane," were introduced between 2016 and 2019. Featuring redesigned interiors and approximately a 10% increase in passenger capacity due to an added multi-class third car, they replaced certain TGV Atlantique sets coinciding with the inauguration of LGV Sud Europe Atlantique. Their numbering ranges from 851 to 891, excluding number 866 reserved as a power reserve.
To support employment at Alstom’s Belfort facility, the French government announced in October 2016 a procurement of fifteen additional trains for intercity services linking Bordeaux and Marseille. SNCF confirmed this order in February 2017. These "3UFC" units, numbered from 836 to 850, have been delivered since August 2019.
In July 2019, SNCF placed an order for twelve more sets scheduled for delivery between 2021 and April 2023. This expansion will bring the total fleet size to 122 units shortly before the introduction of Avelia Horizon.
ONCF
In December 2010, the Moroccan rail company ONCF placed an order for 14 Euroduplex trainsets intended for the Kenitra–Tangier high-speed rail line, valued at €400 million, with initial plans to commence operations by 2015. These trains operate under dual electrification systems of 25 kV and 3 kV and are capable of reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h on the Tangier–Kenitra high-speed route, while achieving speeds between 160 and 220 km/h on Morocco’s standard rail network.
Designed to accommodate 533 passengers, the Moroccan versions include two first-class coaches, five second-class coaches, and a dedicated catering car—modified from the original French design to better suit Morocco’s climate. The first pair of trainsets was scheduled for delivery in summer 2015 via the port of La Rochelle. However, delays exceeding two years due to land acquisition challenges led to increased expenses for Alstom, including extra costs related to storage.
Dynamic testing commenced in January 2016 on the conventional Tangier-Casablanca line and concluded by July 2016, coinciding with the delivery of twelve trainsets. Testing on the high-speed line began in February 2017 and finished in June 2018; notably, on May 4, 2018, a train achieved a record-breaking speed of 357 km/h, setting a new benchmark as Africa’s fastest rail velocity. Alstom ultimately supplied twelve trains for service along the Tangier-Casablanca corridor.
The inauguration of this high-speed route was attended by King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron, marking it as Africa’s first high-speed railway. A maintenance facility spanning 14 hectares at Tangier-Moghogha has been established, capable of servicing up to 30 trainsets.
SNCF
Since their introduction into commercial operation, the 4700 series trains have predominantly served key international routes:
- Alleo: connecting Paris-Est with Stuttgart and Munich via LGV East Europe
- Alleo: linking Frankfurt with Strasbourg, Lyon-Part-Dieu, and Marseille through LGV Rhin-Rhône and the Mediterranean corridor
- TGV Lyria: operating between Paris-Gare de Lyon and Basel-Zürich via Rhine-Rhône since January 2012; notably, Lyria has exclusively utilized Euroduplex trains since December 2019.
On domestic routes, these trains cover destinations accessible by LGV Est such as Strasbourg, Reims, Remiremont, and via Rhin-Rhône to Colmar and Mulhouse.
The 800 series is primarily deployed for international service towards Spain:
- Elipsos: running from Paris-Gare de Lyon through Lyon Part Dieu and Montpellier to Figueres and Barcelona in collaboration with TGV Duplex Dasye.
The 3UFC units operate from Paris Montparnasse serving southwestern cities including Bordeaux, Toulouse, Bayonne, Pau, Lourdes among others. Since 2021, certain services have also been extended from Paris Lyon towards Lyon, Saint-Étienne, Marseille, and Nice.
ONCF
Starting on November 26, 2018, Morocco’s high-speed rail service named Al Boraq began operating between Tangier and Casablanca via Rabat. This operation is conducted in partnership with SNCF through the joint venture known as the "Moroccan high-speed train maintenance company."