New trains to arrive in 2027

New trains designed to replace the aging Corail trains on the Intercités lines connecting Paris to Limoges and Toulouse, and Paris to Clermont-Ferrand, are expected to arrive in the summer of 2027, according to Jean Castex, president of the SNCF.

Potential delay reported

However, Le Parisien reported that delays in testing and homologation—the official approval process—could push the arrival date to 2028. This uncertainty highlights the complexity of introducing new rolling stock into the French rail network.

Manufacturer confident about schedule

The manufacturer, CAF, a Spanish company, insists the schedule will be maintained, citing confirmed dates from SNCF in Clermont-Ferrand on September 16. CAF stated that the trains are currently in the testing and reliability phase.

Testing and approval process ongoing

According to CAF, the SNCF is conducting reliability runs while homologation tests continue, with the goal of obtaining type authorization by the end of the first quarter of 2027. This authorization is necessary before the trains can enter regular service.

Improved capacity and speed

The new Oxygène trains can carry 420 passengers, compared to 396 on the older Corail trains, and have a maximum speed of 200 km/h. These improvements are expected to offer greater comfort and reliability for passengers.

Network upgrades and travel time reduction

Major regeneration works on the rail network have started in 2025. Combined with the new trains, these upgrades are expected to reduce travel time between Clermont-Ferrand and Paris by about ten minutes starting from the 2028 annual service for trains with four intermediate stops.

Deployment plans and uncertainty

A total of 12 trains will be used for the Paris-Clermont line and sixteen for the Paris-Orléans-Limoges-Toulouse line. However, the exact number of new trains actually in operation by next summer remains uncertain, reflecting the ongoing challenges in the deployment timeline.