SNCF orders 100 next-generation TGV M trains from Alstom

In autumn 2018, SNCF, France's state-owned railway operator, ordered 100 next-generation high-speed trainsets from Alstom, the French rolling-stock manufacturer. The trains were first presented as the "TGV of the future" and later became known as the TGV M, with Alstom marketing the platform as Avelia Horizon. The contract was worth around 2.7 billion euros.

The new design aimed to address the ageing of the original TGV fleet, which had run since the early 1980s. The trains were conceived as more modular, so that operators could change the number of cars and the seating layout to suit different routes. They were also meant to use less energy, cost less to run and maintain, and offer better accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility, along with more seats and improved on-board connectivity.

The order mattered because the TGV is central to French rail and to SNCF's competitiveness as European high-speed lines opened to rivals. It was also a major industrial commitment for Alstom, supporting production sites across France. The programme later faced delays before the first trains entered passenger service.