SNCF Class Z 26500
| Industry | Rail transport equipment manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1928 |
| Products | Coradia Duplex trains |
The SNCF Class Z 26500 and Z 24500 represent a fleet of electric multiple unit (EMU) trains equipped with double-decker carriages, constructed on the Coradia Duplex platform developed by Alstom. Referred to as TER 2N NG, these units serve regional TER routes, featuring a bi-level layout (2N) and embodying the "new generation" (NG) that succeeded the earlier SNCF Class Z 23500. Orders for these trains were placed between 2000 and 2009, with deliveries occurring from 2004 through 2010.
In SNCF’s classification system, the Z 24500 units are configured as two- or three-car sets, whereas the Z 26500 consist of four- or five-car formations. Each carriage is powered by dual motors producing 850 kW per bogie, ensuring effective performance for regional transit services.
Luxembourg’s national railway operator, CFL, purchased 22 units under the designation CFL Class 2200, integrating them seamlessly alongside SNCF’s rolling stock.
The SJ X40 series, operated by Swedish railways (SJ AB), is a customized adaptation of the Z 24500 design tailored to Sweden’s specific climatic and infrastructural needs. Comprising 43 units, this series represents Sweden’s inaugural full double-decker train fleet, marking a significant advancement in their regional rail modernization efforts.
History
Following the operational success of the first-generation two-level TER trains (SNCF Class Z 23500), known as TER 2N, and driven by the necessity to renew regional rolling stock, SNCF collaborated with manufacturers to conceive a versatile new train model. The successor was engineered to enhance accessibility for people with reduced mobility (PRM), increase maximum speed from 140 to , support cross-border services in the North-East’s 25 kV AC electrified zones, and improve passenger comfort for journeys lasting up to two and a half hours. It also incorporated diverse passenger spaces and upgraded passive safety systems in compliance with contemporary standards. Alstom utilized its Coradia platform to develop a full-scale mock-up in 2002, facilitating interior design validation with stakeholders.
The initial procurement contract, signed in November 2000, comprised 629 carriages forming 72 trainsets distributed across six regions: Picardie (eight five-car sets), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (ten four-car sets), Centre (seven four-car sets), Nord-Pas-de-Calais (sixteen three-car sets), Lorraine (fifteen three-car sets), and Rhône-Alpes (eleven two-car sets). Additionally, Luxembourg’s CFL acquired twelve three-car trainsets compatible with Lorraine’s configuration.
Initially, Rhône-Alpes ordered eleven two-car Z 24500 sets in 2000; however, in April 2003, eleven intermediate cars were added to extend these into three-car formations. Rhône-Alpes uniquely ordered two-car TER 2N NG units, which have since been phased out.
Between April 2003 and January 2009, ten contract amendments enabled regions to expand or place new orders, including Rhône-Alpes’ conversion of two-car sets into three-car formations. Notably, only the Brittany region abstained from additional orders. These modifications increased total orders to 791 carriages composing 233 trainsets. Following the Zoufftgen rail accident in October 2006, CFL procured two extra carriages to restore a damaged trainset.
Design
SNCF categorizes the TER 2N NG trains according to their formation: Z 24500 refers to sets comprising two or three cars, while Z 26500 identifies those with four or five cars. In Luxembourg, comparable units are known as the 2200 series.
These train variants utilize the same components and are compatible for multiple-unit operation with the earlier Z 23500 TER 2N models. Engineered to serve high-demand inter-city and heavily trafficked suburban routes, they achieve speeds up to , thanks to distributed traction provided by one powered bogie and one unpowered bogie per carriage.