France’s New TGV Is Built for Comfort, Not for Speed

After years of delays, France’s next-generation high-speed train is finally carrying paying passengers. The double-deck TGV M, built by Alstom and sold under SNCF’s TGV INOUI brand, made its inaugural passenger run between Paris Gare de Lyon and Marseille Saint-Charles on November 6, and regular operations began on November 9. It is the first new TGV design in a generation, and SNCF is rolling it out gradually: one daily return trip to start, with six trainsets entering service progressively over the coming weeks.

The headline improvement is not top speed. The train was designed to make long journeys more pleasant rather than shorter. Second-class seats offer up to 5 centimetres more legroom, first-class seats are 5 centimetres wider, and there is 20% more luggage space. Wi-Fi has been upgraded, power sockets are standard, and a two-level bistro car seats 28 upstairs. The train also carries eight spaces for fully assembled bicycles and a built-in lift that lets wheelchair users board without platform ramps or staff assistance.

The rollout map widens soon. Nice is expected to join the TGV M network before the end of November, bringing the Riviera onto the new trains in time for the winter season. Services to the Alps are planned for 2027, including Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the rail gateway to ski areas such as Les Arcs. Over the longer term SNCF intends the TGV M to replace older trainsets across its high-speed network, but that transition will take years rather than months.

For now, the practical catch is availability. With only a handful of new trainsets running, most Paris–Marseille departures are still operated by older TGVs, and the upgraded features only apply if your specific train is a TGV M. Travellers who want the new train, or who rely on the step-free boarding lift or the bike spaces, should check the train assigned to their departure on SNCF Connect before booking, and confirm accessibility arrangements directly with SNCF ahead of travel.

Sources: TravelWise, L’Écho touristique