SNCF Class Z 23500
| Industry | Railway rolling stock manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Successor | Bombardier Transportation (later integrated into Alstom) |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Electric multiple units, including Class Z 23500 |
The Class Z23500, commonly referred to as TER 2N (Train Express Régional à 2 niveaux), is a double-decker electric multiple unit deployed by SNCF across various regional TER lines in France. Production began in 1997 through a collaboration between GEC-Alsthom and Ateliers du Nord de la France (later Bombardier, now integrated into Alstom), resulting in 80 two-car trainsets. These trains primarily operate on regional routes within Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, and Rhône-Alpes, serving local stopping services near the French Riviera, Lille, and Lyon.
Constructed with stainless steel bodies, each trainset accommodates up to 182 passengers including standing room. They reach speeds up to 140 km/h and deliver 1.7 MW of power via four Alstom FXA traction motors managed by IGBT-VVVF technology. Designed for compatibility with dual-voltage electrification—25 kV AC and 1,500 V DC—these units adapt to diverse regional power systems. Maintenance facilities are located at Marseille-Blancarde, Lille, and Lyon-Vénissieux depots. The exterior livery corresponds to their operating regions, such as the light blue scheme used in Rhône-Alpes.
History
During the 1980s, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region saw a marked increase in regional rail traffic, which led to a 1994 procurement of six Class Z 92050 units—mechanically identical to Class Z 20500—to meet rising passenger demand. Similarly, Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) required enhanced versions of the Z 2N family to accommodate higher ridership and longer travel distances. This necessity resulted in the creation of the Z 23500 series as the initial generation of TER 2N trains, preceding the later Z 24500/Z 26500 models (TER 2N NG) introduced in 2004.
Following a regional tender in 1995, the regions of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Rhône-Alpes, and PACA collectively commissioned 80 Z 23500 trainsets (comprising 160 cars) from GEC-Alsthom and Bombardier Transportation (ANF). SNCF finalized a full refurbishment program for all Z 23500 units by September 2022.
Design
The Class Z 23500 originates from a truncated version of the four-car Z 20500 trainset but incorporates enhanced power capabilities and upgraded interiors. Built on the Z 2N platform to maximize capacity, it features improvements such as better seating arrangements, air conditioning systems, and an ONIX traction system based on IGBT technology that replaced the initially intended GTO-based equipment.
This ONIX system utilizes IGBT modules coupled with three-phase asynchronous motors. It underwent trials on a modified Z 20500 unit known as "ADONIX" between 1996 and 1997. The same traction technology is also implemented in Classes Z 20900 and CP Class CP 3500.
Delivery
In autumn 1997, three pre-series units (Z 23501, Z 23502, Z 23503) were delivered for evaluation purposes. The first production model (Z 23505) commenced service on 15 February 1998.