Trains for Paris

An Alstom-Bombardier consortium has secured a €917m deal to supply MI09 double-decker train sets to RATP, Paris’s regional transport authority.

The deal is for 60 train sets (consisting of 30 trains of two trainsets each) to replace the existing single-decker MI84 rolling stock.

Alstom will carry out around 70 per cent of the contract, worth approximately €640m to the company.

According to Alstom, priority in the design has been given to capacity, traffic circulation and passenger comfort.

The 110m-long double-decker trainsets have the capacity to manage a flow of 1 million passengers a day and will each carry up to 1,725 people.

Reaching speeds of 120km/h, the consortium expects the performance of the trains to enable greater train frequency.

In the 1990s, the same consortium manufactured the MI2N suburban trains, on which the current MI09 design is based.

As well as modern interiors, the trains will feature a traction system that is said to reduce energy consumption and produce fewer dust particles during braking.

Manufacture of the electrical units, traction controls, traction motors, command and control units and end cars will take place at Alstom sites in France.

Bombardier will be responsible for the supply of three middle cars of the five-car set, also to be assembled in France at its Crespin site.

The contract also includes the option of extra trainsets.

Delivery of the first trainset is scheduled for the end of 2010, with the train to come into service during 2011.