![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.railuk.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/06145354\/Avelia-Horizon-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe first TGV M train (35081) left Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:56 CET and arrived at Marseille Saint-Charles at 13:05. The return trip (35080) departed Marseille at 14:59.<\/p>\n
The first six TGV M trains will be deployed on the Paris\u2013Marseille route, initially with one return journey a day, before services are gradually increased.<\/p>\n
Avelia Horizon has been developed to meet the changing priorities of high-speed operators worldwide: increasing capacity, reducing energy consumption, optimising lifecycle costs and enhancing the passenger experience.<\/p>\n
Its architecture has been completely redesigned, drawing on Alstom\u2019s experience across successive generations of high-speed trains. From the power cars and passenger coaches to aerodynamics, traction, digital systems and maintenance, the train has been conceived as an integrated system. It incorporates more than 400 innovations for which patent applications have been filed.<\/p>\n
Shorter power cars make room for an additional passenger coach within the same train length, allowing the new-generation TGV to offer up to 20% more seating capacity than the previous generation with high level of comfort and accommodate up to 740 passengers.<\/p>\n
The train also consumes 20% less energy than the previous generation, supported by improved aerodynamics, reduced weight and more efficient traction systems. At maximum capacity, this represents a 32% reduction in energy consumption per passenger-kilometre.<\/p>\n
Predictive maintenance systems, fewer components and improved accessibility have been designed to increase fleet availability and reduce maintenance costs by more than 30% compared with the previous generation. Its scalable digital architecture also allows new technologies and passenger services to be integrated throughout its operating life.<\/p>\n
“Avelia Horizon represents the most significant evolution in very high-speed train architecture in more than 30 years. Its innovation lies in the complete redesign of the train\u2019s architecture,” said Benjamin Fitoussi, president of rolling stock and components at Alstom. <\/p>\n
“The platform allows operators to carry more passengers within the same train length with high level of comfort, while reducing energy consumption and optimising maintenance throughout the lifecycle.”<\/p>\n
Since the introduction of the first TGV in 1981, Alstom has developed successive generations of high-speed and very high-speed trains. Each generation has combined operational feedback with advances in capacity, reliability, energy efficiency, maintainability and passenger comfort. Avelia Horizon represents the most significant evolution in very high-speed train architecture in more than 30 years (since the TGV Euroduplex entered service in 1996).<\/p>\n
More than 2,200 trains incorporating Alstom\u2019s Avelia technologies have operated across 25 countries, crossed 20 national borders and travelled more than 10 billion kilometres.<\/p>\n
This accumulated experience enables Alstom to support customers throughout the lifecycle of their high-speed systems, from design, engineering and industrialisation to certification, entry into service, maintenance, life cycle support and digital optimisation.<\/p>\n