France: Framework procurement has been announced by Île-de-France Mobilités, the transport authority for the Paris region, and national operator SNCF. The firm portion includes 52 trainsets for Île-de-France Mobilités valued at almost €1.5 bln excluding VAT. The rolling stock is to enter service on suburban and urban rail lines in the Paris agglomeration in 2033.
Procurement of the trainsets, provisionally named Z2N NG, was announced in 2024. The new trainsets will operate from 1.5 kV DC and 25 kV AC supplies with a top speed of up to 140 km/h and a maximum axleload limited to 22.5 t. When running up to two in multiple, maximum power draw on DC lines must not exceed 6 MW. Trainsets must be fitted with an energy storage system to improve acceleration and recuperation under DC, as well as providing 5 km of autonomous running.
Trainsets may be fully or partially double-deck. At a length of no more than 105 m a trainset must accommodate at least 900 passengers, including at least 455 seated. Doors must be at 550 mm platform height above rail. Compared with the Z2N trains to be replaced (built 1988–2004), passenger throughput must be improved through increased door width and/or numbers.
It should be noted that the base specification of the Z2N NG is close to that of the partially double-deck RER NG trainsets being procured from Alstom for RER E and D lines. Differences are dictated by infrastructure constraints on RER C, notably platform heights and low power capacity of the traction power supply. To date 262 RER NG trainsets have been ordered under the base contract and options, of which 86 have been delivered. The EMUs have been in service since 2023.
