France Invests in Avelia Horizon Trains to Revolutionize European High-Speed Rail

France has taken a major step toward modernizing and expanding Europe’s high-speed rail network with the order of the Avelia Horizon, a new generation of double-deck trains designed to transform long-distance travel. This ambitious investment reflects the French government and SNCF’s commitment to increasing rail capacity, reducing travel times, and improving service quality across the continent. The Avelia Horizon trains are being positioned not only as a technological upgrade but also as a strategic initiative to strengthen rail as a competitive alternative to road and air travel. By introducing these state-of-the-art trains, France is aiming to set a new benchmark in high-speed rail performance, passenger comfort, and energy efficiency, while reinforcing its leadership role in European rail innovation.

The Avelia Horizon trains are designed to reach speeds of up to 320 km/h, enabling faster and more reliable long-distance travel across major European corridors. The double-deck configuration significantly increases passenger capacity, helping to meet growing demand on routes such as Paris–Lyon, Paris–Marseille, and cross-border connections like Paris–Brussels and Paris–Barcelona. Beyond higher speeds and greater capacity, these trains feature advanced energy-efficient traction systems, optimized aerodynamics, and modern passenger amenities, including larger windows, quieter interiors, and smart seating configurations. Collectively, these upgrades will reduce travel time, improve comfort, and allow operators to run more frequent services, thereby enhancing both domestic and international mobility. The Avelia Horizon represents a strategic solution for dense high-speed rail corridors where both environmental and economic efficiency are critical.

This investment also underscores a broader European trend: countries increasingly view rail as central to sustainable mobility, climate targets, and modern transport infrastructure. Rail travel produces substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions per passenger kilometer compared to cars or airplanes, aligning with EU and national climate objectives. By investing in cutting-edge trains like the Avelia Horizon, France is promoting a greener, more sustainable transportation system capable of accommodating Europe’s growing passenger and freight demands. The project is expected to catalyze further innovation in rail technology, stimulate economic growth through job creation in manufacturing and maintenance, and encourage other European nations to invest in modernizing their high-speed rail networks. In the long term, the Avelia Horizon initiative aims to make rail travel faster, cleaner, and more attractive, contributing to a future in which high-speed trains are the backbone of Europe’s sustainable transport network.