France: A two-axle prototype manufactured at Socofer’s facility in Tours is bound for testing in Centre-Val de Loire.
With its flax-based composite body, the 12.5 m unit reportedly carries 48 passengers, has an axle load of under 8 tf, a top speed of 70 km/h, and an operational range of up to 500 km on Li-Ion power.
EcoTrain’s would-be operational grounds include previously obsolete lines with low traffic and weak track superstructure, estimated to total 50,000 km across Europe. The manufacturers expect railbuses to run in multiple up to five vehicles, with their optional freight carrying capacity being of 2.5 ts. It is planned to fit the vehicle with a GoA4 onboard system that renders conventional trackside signalling and interlocking equipment redundant.
Ultra-light EcoTrain railbus from Socofer. Source: IMT Nord Europe
Reportedly, the rolling stock is also fit for maintenance at existing automotive parks and bus depots, thus potentially minimising capital as well as operational costs and thereby addressing the economic challenges of loss-making services on low-traffic lines.
Founded in 2019 by engineer and entrepreneur Philippe Bourguignon in partnership with Socofer, Stratiforme and other companies, the EcoTrain startup has been granted €8 mln by France’s Agency for Environment and Energy Management. The consortium offers turnkey transport system delivery under concession arrangements, with EcoTrain deployment costs estimated at €1.5 mln per track kilometre.
Draisy, by SNCF and Lohr engineering company, is a comparable France-based project albeit also boasting main line accessibility. Similar ultra-light railbuses are being developed in Germany and the United Kingdom.
