Proxima, the new French high-speed rail operator, has awarded Alstom a 15-year contract to manufacture and maintain 12 trains of the Avelia Horizon family.
The manufacturer estimates the value of the entire deal to be approximately €850 million, with the first trains scheduled for delivery in 2028.
As Proxima announced in June, the operator aims to ‘reinvent the experience for its diverse customers’ by listening to their needs and reflecting changes in consumer behaviour and lifestyles. This includes the growth of remote working, the blurring of the distinction between business and leisure, and the demand for enhanced onboard connectivity.
It will compete with SNCF on routes linking Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes and Angers to Paris. To achieve this, it will utilise the latest generation of trains developed by the French manufacturer in collaboration with SNCF under the TGV-M project. Further information on this train can be found in Trenvista issue 2.
The company was established by Rachel Picard, former CEO of SNCF Mobilités and a key figure in the development of the Ouigo brand, and Timothy Jackson, founder of Alpha Trains (formerly Angel Trains) and former CEO of RATP Dev for Great Britain and Ireland.
The start-up will invest approximately €1.2 billion from the Antin Infrastructure Partners investment fund.
