We have 2 ambitions: double rail’s modal share of transport within 10 years, and meet rising passenger demand for rail travel. To help achieve them, SNCF Voyageurs and its Rolling Stock Division launched Operation Anti-Obsolescence to extend the lives of our existing high-speed TGVs.

Trainsets in our fleet were inventoried in the first quarter of 2024 to decide their fate. Key criteria included the condition of each trainset’s body¹, metal components, bogies², and electrical systems. After the vehicles were evaluated, we divided them into 3 groups.

• Group 1: trainsets that are in good condition. Units in this category will continue to run, with upgrades to make them more comfortable.
• Group 2: trainsets that need reliability work or more significant refurbishment to extend their working life.
• Group 3: trainsets that need to exit the fleet. These units have obsolete elements, such as electronic components and bogie frames, but contain nearly 3,000 parts that can be reclaimed and used to repair other trainsets.

Service life will be extended by 2-4 years or by 10 years, depending on our assessment:

• The 2-4 year group will require a year of studies and testing, plus 2-4 weeks of work per trainset. The first of these will begin running on the Atlantic corridor in early 2026.
• The 10-year group will need 3 years of studies and testing, plus 4-6 months of refurbishing per trainset. Work on these vehicles will begin in 2026 and end in 2033.

Only double-decker trainsets, which account for about 25% of the renovated fleet, will be eligible for a 10-year extension.

To make the refurbished trainsets more energy-efficient, our team will take inspiration from the new TGV M. In particular, they’ll focus on its aerodynamic design, which cuts energy consumption during run time.

It will also be a point of pride to save energy when trains are stopped. To reach this goal, we’ll combine several different solutions, such as parking in eco-mode and replacing current lighting with LED technology.