France’s Newest Double-Decker TGV Starts Carrying Passengers in Under Three Weeks

Alstom’s double-decker TGV M trains are due to enter passenger service in France on November 9, 2026. At first they will operate a limited number of Paris to Marseille trips, so riders hoping to catch one will need to check which departures are assigned.

Each train can carry up to 740 passengers. SNCF ordered about 160 of them in a deal worth roughly €4.6 billion, which makes the TGV M a central part of the operator’s plans for its high-speed fleet.

The debut is a quiet start for a large order. Limited early service lets an operator iron out problems on a single corridor before deploying a new type more widely, and the Paris to Marseille line is one of the busiest in the network.

For travelers, the first signs will be modest: a few services on one route, flagged in timetables and booking tools. How quickly the rollout widens will determine when most riders notice the new trains.

Sources: AndyB Travels Rail Roundup, SNCF