Gastienne told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on October 20 that the region will place an order for 40 Bombardier Omneo Premium double-deck EMUs, with deliveries starting in late-2019. SNCF president Mr Guillaume Pepy also told reporters during a visit to Rouen on October 20 that Normandy will receive €720m from the French state to fund the order and the contract will be signed on November 23.

Normandy signed an agreement with the French government on April 25 to take over the operation of five loss-making inter-city services from SNCF in a deal which included a commitment by the French government to fund the renewal of rolling stock.

Under the agreement, which represents the first transfer of so-called Balance of Territory (TET) trains currently operated by French National Railways (SNCF) to regional control, Normandy will assume responsibility for Paris - Caen - Cherbourg, Trouville - Deauville, Paris - Rouen - Le Harve, Paris - Granville, Paris - Evreux - Serquigny, and Caen - Le Mans - Tours services by the beginning of 2020.

On October 17 Bombardier France president Mr Laurent Bouyer told AFP that the company’s Crespin plant in Hauts-de-France, which is currently building Omneo trains for the French regions, has no booked orders beyond the first quarter of 2019.