THE Association of French Regions (ARF) and the Federation of French Towns have warned the French government that it must act decisively to save the so-called balance of territory (TET) trains, a network of 40 loss-making long-distance services which serves 355 towns and cities across 21 regions.

Buoyed by a strong balance sheet, Italian State Railways (FS) is currently embarking on an ambitious programme of restructuring, infrastructure investments and service improvements. A year since his appointment as CEO, Michele Elia speaks exclusively to Kevin Smith about how the railway is progressing with these plans.

BOMBARDIER confirmed on May 6 that Ile-de-France Transport Authority (Stif) and French National Railways (SNCF) subsidiary SNCF Mobility have placed a €127m order for 19 additional class Z 50000 Francilien EMUs for suburban services in the Paris area.

REGULAR passenger services returned to the French town of Carpentras for the first time in 77 years on April 25 with the reopening of the 17km branch from Sourges north of Avignon.

THE vice-president of Brittany Mr Gérard Lahellec announced on April 22 that the French region will exercise an option worth around €100m with Bombardier for 10 additional Regio 2N EMUs, taking the region's total fleet of the double-deck trains to 27.

A three-year €120m project to improve the door-to-door travel experience for rail passengers was unveiled on April 16 by Mrs Barbara Dalibard CEO of French National Railways (SNCF) passenger division SNCF Voyages.

THELLO, the open-access joint venture between Trenitalia and Transdev, increased the number of direct trains between Nice and Milan from one to three train pairs from April12.

FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) has complained to the organisers of the Paris – Roubaix cycle race for allowing several competitors to stream across a level crossing well after the barriers had come down, narrowly avoiding a collision with a TGV.

THE French Railway Safety Board (EPSF) granted a supplementary authorisation to place in service (SAPS) on March 31 for the Siemens Velaro D multi-system high-speed train, enabling the operation of German Rail's (DB) class 407 fleet on the French network.

TRANSAMO, acting as an agent for Ile-de-France Transport Authority (Stif), has issued a call for tender for the supply of LRV fleets for the new light rail lines T9 and T10 in southern Paris. Closing date for bids is May 4.