“Pleasant”, “spacious”, “bright”… The first passengers of the brand new TGV M testify

With its aerodynamic line, its tapered nose and its double-decker trains, the very first TGV M took the Paris-Marseille line on Friday, November 6 morning. On board, the entire cabin has been completely revised: it can accommodate 20% more passengers, with greater comfort in second class. A new cabin much appreciated by two colleagues: “The atmosphere is good, bright.” "It's nice, even in second class, we have room for coffee, for the computer. There are sockets if we run out of battery, and it's quiet. There's more space, because the air conditioning has been turned up, too," they note.

Five centimeters more width for the second class seats, with all the amenities that, until then, were reserved for first class. Details that really make the difference, according to one traveler: "It's spacious, even at the saloon level, [for] someone of my build, I'm seated very comfortably, both for the legs and for the luggage... It's great," she assures. The luggage compartments have actually been enlarged: 20% more, with the possibility of putting cabin suitcases under the seats.

More comfort for passengers, but also for the driver. Before leaving Paris-Gare de Lyon, Daniel Antunes was delighted to take the controls of this new train: "It's the most comfortable in 28 years of driving trains. It's the color of the cabin, it's the brightness inside, it's the seat, which is ultra-comfortable... A beautiful panorama, with a slightly rounded windshield. As a result, I have an exceptional office when I travel", rejoices the driver of the first TGV M commercial.

SNCF has ordered a total of 160 new trainsets. Despite the two and a half years delay, the delivery of these new generation TGVs is very good news for the company. “Certain departures on vacation, certain weekends, we are forced to refuse travelers because we do not have a train. The objective of the arrival of the new generation TGV is also, obviously, to meet this expectation,” underlines Jean Castex, CEO of SNCF.

This new TGV promises to consume 20% less energy. Thirteen trains should be delivered by the end of the year to be gradually deployed on the Paris-Marseille line.