ALSTOM at Le Train Capitale
AT THE HEART OF THE STORY - THE TRAINS

Perhaps the best way to illustrate the story of rail transport is to see the trains themselves. At Le Train Capitale, you can see ALSTOM’s major achievements up close along the Champs-Elysées.

BB12125 single-current electric locomotive  © CMCF Built between 1956 and 1961, these single-current units were used in the French northeast, Savoy and Jura regions. They are no longer in service today.

X 4039 "PICASSO" thermal railcar  © O.Curie The PICASSO, part of the X 3800 series, was specially designed for local and semi-direct service. Built between 1950 and 1961 by the Régie Nationale Renault and the Ateliers du Nord de la France, they were hugely popular during the 1960s. The last railcar of this type was withdrawn from service in 1988. The PICASSO at Le Train Capitale belongs to a Dijon association (Autorails de Bourgogne et de Franche-Comté) and is used for tourist trips.

PRIMA EL BB 427000 freight locomotive This dual-current unit from the PRIMA diesel range has been transporting freight throughout Europe since 2001. It incorporates the very latest technological advances and stringently complies with rail-transport standards.

Z 20900/Z2N double-deck electric suburban train Z 20900 This double-decker is known in France as the Z2N. Brought into service in June 2001, it comprises two motor cars and two coaches. An important detail: The coaches are air-conditioned.

VB2N double-deck suburban trailer carriages Brought into service in 1975, these 402 double-deck coaches are currently undergoing refurbishment and modernization to provide higher-quality travel on the SNCF Transilien lines in the Paris region.

CORADIA A TER X73900 regional train Brought into service in 1999, the CORADIA A TER was designed to handle urban traffic and increasing suburban demand. Its top speed is 140 kph.

EUROSTAR Brought into service in 1994, the EUROSTAR takes only three hours to reach Paris from London, and only two hours and 40 minutes to travel from Brussels to London. The 38 EUROSTAR trains have a maximum speed of 300 kph and each boasts 794 seats.

TGV Atlantique: power car and first-class coach Trainset 531 Brought into service in 1989, the TGV Atlantique runs on the Paris-to-Le Mans line and serves Brittany. On May 28, 2001, the power car presented at Le Train Capitale (the 531) made the 1067.2-kilometer Calais-to-Marseille trip in three hours and 29 minutes for an average speed of 306.36 kph – a new record.

The CORADIA Z TER regional and interurban train 57 Z TER trains have been ordered by the SNCF and will enter service soon. The three-car trainsets have 217-seat capacity and a maximum speed of 200 kph.