CAF has secured two new contracts in France worth a combined total of over €300 million, consolidating its operations in the French railway market. One of the contracts, awarded to CAF by Syndicat Mixte des Mobilités de L'Aire Grenobloise -SMMAG- (Mixed Union of Mobility of the Grenoble Area) involves supplying 38 Urbos trams, with an option to extend the contract by up to 9 additional units. Also, the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region has placed its trust in the company by awarding the CAF-Alstom consortium a new order for 14 Coradia Polyvalent regional trains. This contract stems from the agreements in place between CAF and Alstom following CAF’s acquisition of the Reichshoffen plant in 2022. Accordingly, CAF is responsible for the design and manufacturing of the units in this platform, while Alstom supplies some of the equipment.
The Supply of 38 Trams for the French City of Grenoble
Securing a contract with SMMAG for the supply of 38 Urbos trams, with an option to add 9 more trams, marks another success for CAF in France. The new units will gradually replace the trams currently in operation starting in 2028, in line with SMMAG's overall strategy, the main goal of which is to provide an increasingly dynamic service tailored to user needs.
The new trams for Grenoble, known as the capital of the French Alps, will feature state-ofthe- art technology from CAF's Urbos tram platform, a vehicle that has proven its reliability and is already trusted by transport operators in nearly 50 cities worldwide. This new contract adds to the tram contracts the company is currently developing for Marseille, Montpellier and Tours.
The new units for Grenoble will be tailored to meet the specific requirements of its metropolitan area in terms of accessibility, increased capacity, comfort and operational optimisation. The trams, fully air-conditioned and 100% low-floor design, will accommodate 281 passengers, including 82 seated. They will facilitate access and movement for people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users. They will also feature 12 double-access doors, thereby reducing boarding and alighting times at stations. It should be pointed out that the trams will be manufactured at CAF’s Bagnères-de-Bigorre plant.
14 Coradia Polyvalent Regional Trains for the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region
Also, the Coradia Polyvalent platform responds to the development of regional transport through its modularity in both architecture and motorisation, as well as its interior design. To date, the different French regions have ordered almost 450 trains of this type, with 400 in commercial service, demonstrating high levels of reliability and availability. Specifically, the new regional trains for the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region will complement its current fleet of 48 trains.
This new order consists of 5 electric Intercités trains, each comprising 6 cars, with a seating capacity of 355 passengers, and 9 bi-mode TER trains, each comprising 4 cars, with 228 seats. These trains provide passengers with a high level of comfort, featuring large windows, indirect LED interior lighting, and seats equipped with armrests, reading lights and power outlets. To meet the highest PRM standards, they feature a larger toilet area and facilities designed to facilitate the movement of people with reduced mobility. Furthermore, the nine TER trains will be equipped with specific features, including an additional parking brake and preparation for the ETCS (European Train Control System). In this case, the Coradia Polyvalent trains will be designed and manufactured at CAF's Reichshoffen plant, in Alsace.
CAF's Commitment in France: Two Expanding and Evolving Industrial Plants
Since 2019, CAF has established itself as a key player in the French railway landscape through its commercial successes and industrial commitment. These two new orders confirm a tailored industrial strategy, assigning a specific role for each of its two French plants.
The Bagnères de Bigorre plant is now CAF's expertise centre in France for manufacturing trams and short trains (under 50 metres). The Reichshoffen plant, on the other hand, is primarily dedicated to long trains over 50 metres in length. It should be noted that since 2022, CAF has invested almost €10 million per year in the modernisation and expansion of both facilities to meet the most demanding customer requirements.
The CAF Group currently offers one of the broadest product ranges in the French market, from Intercités trains to zero-emission buses, including RER trains, trams, and metros. All of this strengthens and expands CAF’s presence in the country, further increasing its already substantial backlog, and positioning the French market as one of the company’s key markets in the years to come. Furthermore, these orders consolidate the industrial workload plan for the French plants and strengthen CAF's position as a benchmark company and long-term partner to local, regional and national public authorities in developing public transport in France. It should be noted that France is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of stable and recurrent investment in the renewal of railway rolling stock.
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