Newly-designed TGV Océane train enters service between Paris & South West France

Credit: SNCF

SNCF has introduced the newly-designed TGV Océane trains on the route between Paris-Montparnasse station and Bordeaux and Toulouse in South West France.

Credit: SNCF

On Sunday 11^th December 2016, French National Railway Company (SNCF) introduced the new TGV Océane trains on the line linking Paris-Montparnasse station with Bordeaux and Toulouse.

SNCF Voyageurs CEO Florence Parly was joined by Alain Vidalies, French Minister of State for Transport, Oceans and Fisheries, to welcome the first outbound service as it arrived at Bordeaux-St-Jean station.

TGV Océane will seat 22 percent more passengers than the TGV Atlantique

Forty new trainsets will enter service on the country’s southwestern network between now and 2019. The TGV Océane seats 556 travellers – 22 percent more than the current TGV Atlantique – with 158 seats in first class and 398 in second class. It will operate at speeds of up to 320 km/h.

The TGV Océane interior space has been redesigned to enhance comfort and privacy with improvements such as better connectivity and ergonomic seats. The TGV first class design aims to provide passengers with seats that can pivot in the direction of travel. Approximately 90 percent of seats will be able to rotate to ensure forward facing travel.

Credit: SNCF

Each seat has lumbar support which automatically adjusts the backrest angle to provide passenger comfort whilst working or relaxing. In addition, the seat delivers a number of features to aid the overall customer experience including, jacks, USB port, variable lighting and useful features such as a reading light, hanger, fixed mirror and luggage space under the seat.  A mini table also unfolds to allow travellers to connect their smartphone without having to pull down the additional larger table.

Second class of travel will also benefit from ergonomic seating with an extra wide tray table, USB ports and 220v power points for electronic devices. Use of wood textiles and leather is also aimed to provide an optimised sense of well-being.