Jon Worth

CONFIRMED: SNCF's Alstom built TGV-M Avelia Horizon trains ARE too big for some Italian railway lines

All explained here 👇
https://jonworth.eu/confirmed-sncfs-alstom-built-tgv-m-avelia-horizon-trains-are-too-large-for-some-italian-rail-lines/

Thanks @bovine3dom for the help understanding this!

Confirmed: SNCF's Alstom built TGV-M Avelia Horizon trains are too large for some Italian rail lines

When Les Echos and BFM reported that SNCF's TGV-M trains (branded Avelia Horizon by their manufacturer Alstom) were too tall for Italian tunnels I could scarcely believe it. This news came in the same week as SNCF received some good news that they can get a package of guaranteed high

Jon Worth
Mar 14 at 5:15pmWeb
Show threadMartin HoffmannMar 14
@jon I think GB is right. That’s what it seems to say in the gauge marker in this picture: https://images.bfmtv.com/YrJLbvZbCFSBYojdUG1hsSr5yVc=/0x28:2016x1162/2016x0/images/TGV-M-1479241.jpg
Show threadJon WorthMar 14
@partim Thanks, now added to the blog post, with credit.
Show threadJon WorthMar 14
@partim I even inadvertently have my own pic showing this! 😂
Show threadMartin HoffmannMar 14
@jon I think next to the big overall GB it says G2 for the bogie area and GB for the roof?
Show threadJon WorthMar 14
@partim I am not bothering with the lower stuff here 🙂
Show threadQuixoticgeekMar 14
@jon so SNCF are fine with competing in other countries, but don't want companies from those countries trying to do the same in France ?
Show threadDr. SobekMar 14

@quixoticgeek @jon I think the whole going into Italy is a reply to Trenitalia being in France.

Though, I'll also say that neither company are playing fair. (Trenitalia is getting lower track use fees, and currently still running a loss, while SNCF abuses its dominant position on ticketing to try and make trenitalia invisible to customers).

And the lack of decent passenger rights regulations are not helping.

(The whole passenger right regulations are not designed for trips including different operators)

Show threadJon WorthMar 14
@Sobex @quixoticgeek Although I am more sympathetic to Trenitalia here than I am to SNCF, in that Trenitalia have had to face Italo for a decade, and they actually run nice trains and don't seem to hate passengers!
Show threadDr. SobekMar 14

@jon @quixoticgeek That's fair.

And Trenitalia could have handled my little brother broken connection from a TER in a less stressful way, but they handled it alright in the end.

(TER was delayed by an hour due to a previous TER being on fire, he missed his Frecce out of Marseilles to Paris, and the train manager of the next train checked he had a free seat and allowed him on board (though the whole mandatory reservation thing seems to have been copied over from SNCF nonsense, and the lack of any way of sorting this before the next train was in marseilles station was seriously fucked up)).

Show threadjslMar 14
@jon @bovine3dom I can see an SNCF TGV-M being stuck in front of an old tunnel in rural Lazio and RFI just shrugging at SNCF and suggesting that they let a bit of air out of the tyres.
Show threadJon WorthMar 14
@jsl @bovine3dom Now you say it... there *is* active suspension on the TGV-M. Let some air out of the suspension!
Show threadjslMar 14
@jon @bovine3dom No, don't do that! If you lower the suspension, the train becomes a TGV-Sportif and Alstom charges you a lot more for the firmed-up ride, the artificial engine noise they pipe into the passenger compartment and the carbon fibre insets on the driver's seat :-)
Show threadOliver BlanthornMar 14
@jsl @jon 🎶 the low rider is a little higher 🎶 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsrqKE1iqqo&t=26
WAR - Low Rider (Official Video) [Remastered in 4K]

YouTube
Show threadfungus (oracle of tree logs)Mar 14
@jon @bovine3dom that's not the first time that alstom makes a too big train T_T
(the duplex required platform adjustment)
Show threadJon WorthMar 14
@hypha @bovine3dom As did Régiolis (they took the flex to the platform edges, rather than the Régiolis though, sadly)