France's new TGV finally enters service after years of delays

The first next-generation TGV leaves Paris for Marseille on Friday morning, after years of testing and delays. It promises more comfort and a smaller footprint.

6 Nov 2026, 07:351 min read

A new-generation TGV M high-speed train stands at a platform in a Paris railway station. — Image: Le Monde

It has been a long wait, but the next-generation TGV is finally carrying passengers. On Friday 6 November, the first train leaves Paris for Marseille in the morning.

The new trains are billed as more comfortable, more environmentally friendly and more modular than the ones they replace. SNCF, France's national rail operator, says they come with a number of innovations.

Why the wait? SNCF unveiled the TGV M design back in 2018. It ordered 100 trainsets from Alstom, built to be modular, energy-efficient and accessible. Then came problems with testing and certification, and the start date slipped again and again. By 2024, entry into service had been pushed back.

Now the wait is over. The new trains will not appear overnight, though. They will gradually replace the existing fleet over roughly ten years. So if you ride the TGV often, you may need a little luck to land on one at first. Over time, they will become the norm.

#sncf#tgv#alstom#rail#paris#marseille

How do you feel?