Avelia Horizon
| TGV M Avelia Horizon | |
|---|---|
Avelia Horizon being tested on the Paris–Brest railway | |
| Manufacturer | Alstom |
| Built at | La Rochelle (Aytré)/Belfort |
| Family name | Avelia |
| Constructed | 2020– |
| Number under construction | 115 (SNCF); 12 (Proxima); 18 (ONCF) |
| Formation | 2 power cars + 7-9 passenger cars |
| Operators |
|
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium |
| Train length | Up to 202 m (663 ft) |
| Width | 2.9 or 3.2 m (9.5 or 10.5 ft) |
| Height | 4.32 or 4.7 m (14.2 or 15.4 ft) |
| Floor height | ~430 mm (17 in) |
| Platform height | 127–550 mm (5.0–21.7 in) |
| Maximum speed |
|
| Traction system | Alstom IGBT–VVVF |
| Power output | 7.8 MW (10,500 hp) |
| Transmission | AC-DC-AC |
| Electric system(s) | |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph, 2 per power car |
| Braking system(s) | Dynamic and regenerative (power cars) Electro-pneumatic disk and tread (trainset) |
| Safety system(s) | ETCS, TVM, KVB |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The Avelia Horizon, called TGV M ("M" for modular) by its main customer, SNCF, is a high-speed passenger train designed and produced by Alstom. It has a broadly similar design to the TGV Duplex sets, with double-decker coaches and a push–pull configuration with a power car on either end. However, it is more energy efficient and provides lower operating costs.
Development of the TGV M originated with SNCF's launch of a program to procure a new generation of high-speed trains in 2015. In May 2016, the Alstom-headed Speedinnov joint venture was selected as the winning bidder for the program; on 7 September 2016, SNCF and Alstom signed an agreement to design and build the new trains. In July 2018, SNCF placed an initial €2.7 billion order for 100 Avelia Horizon trainsets. Production of the first bodyshells commenced in mid-2020; two years later, dynamic testing was underway. In August 2022, SNCF announced that it had exercised an option for 15 additional quad-current Avelia Horizon trainsets for international services valued at €590m.
The TGV M is expected to enter service with the French train operator SNCF in TGV service in early 2026; deliveries will continue into the 2030s. In 2023, SNCF labelled the train as TGV InOui 2025. A similar trainset known as the Avelia Liberty is currently being procured by Amtrak in the United States for its Acela service along the Northeast Corridor.