Paris region to refurbish 360 trains on six lines in €3 billion overhaul running to 2043

Commuters across the Paris region are in for upgraded trains — though the work will take a while. Île-de-France Mobilités announced on social media on October 26 a 'comprehensive refurbishment' of trains that entered service from 2009, with details confirmed on October 27: six lines, 360 trains, a €3 billion budget, and a programme running through 2043.

Six lines covered: H, J, K, L, P and RER E

The lines concerned are Transilien lines H, J, K, L and P, plus RER line E — the commuter routes carrying large daily flows between Paris and its suburbs. The trains are the Francilien fleet (Z 50000 / NAT), all 360 of which are included in the programme.

Seats, cameras, air conditioning and screens all upgraded

The overhaul covers refurbished seats and interior and exterior fittings, new panoramic video-surveillance cameras, upgraded air conditioning designed to reduce its environmental impact, and better on-board passenger information screens. The €3 billion cost is funded entirely by Île-de-France Mobilités.

RER E also extends west to Mantes-la-Jolie

Alongside the refurbishment, RER line E is due to be extended westward to Mantes-la-Jolie in the Yvelines department, widening rail coverage in the western suburbs. The Paris metro is also progressively receiving new MF19 trains, and RER line B is set to get MI20 trains by the end of 2028 — the regional rail network is entering a concentrated renewal phase.