French national railway Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français (SNCF) has awarded an €8bn ($11bn) framework contract to Bombardier to supply 860 double-deck electrical multiple units.
The first €800m ($1.1bn) order for 80 trains has been placed by six regions, including Aquitaine, Bretagne, Centre, Nord-Pas de Calais, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Rhône-Alpes.
The order will be financed by the regions, with deliveries scheduled for between June 2013 and December 2015.
Bombardier has developed a new train model for the order, which features a modular concept for suburban, regional and intercity services; a wide body for more capacity and comfort, and wide connectors for transparency throughout the train's length.
