THE Occitanie regional council has announced it is supporting two projects under the French government’s plans to develop light rail passenger trains, with the aim of safeguarding and developing rural branch lines by reducing operating and maintenance costs. The government is currently processing Expressions of Interest (EoI) from companies for projects to develop light passenger trains, with Occitanie supporting projects from Ecotrain and Ferromobile.
Ecotrain consists of a 12-tonne battery-powered driverless train with seats for 30 passengers. The train’s batteries would be charged from solar panels in stabling areas or stations. Like Taxirail, which recently won its first contract for a feasibility study in Normandy, Ecotrain would only be able to operate on lines separate from the conventional mainline network.
A freight version, Microfret, is also planned and could be tested on the Castelsarrasin – Beaumont-en-Lomagne line in Occitanie from 2023.