Stadler has signed a contract with Région Sud to supply eight customised hybrid multiple units for Chemins de fer de Provence (CP).

The two-car trains are being built for CP’s metre-gauge network, which runs between Nice and Digne-les-Bains. The new fleet will replace older diesel units currently in use on the 150-kilometre route.

Stadler will deliver eight customised hybrid metre-gauge multiple units

© Stadler

Designed for both urban and rural operation, the trains combine battery and biodiesel-powered drive systems. This hybrid configuration is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 77% compared with conventional diesel vehicles.

A battery charging facility is being constructed in Nice as part of the supporting infrastructure for the new fleet.

The trains are being manufactured at Stadler’s facility in Bussnang, Switzerland. Each unit is approximately 40 metres long and will carry up to 184 passengers — 86 seated and 98 standing.

The order represents one of Stadler’s largest projects in the French market for metre-gauge vehicles. The units, designated as BEMU Bem 4/8, are tailored to CP’s specific operational needs, including a minimum curve radius of 100 metres and a maximum speed of 100 km/h. The vehicles will be delivered and commissioned by 2028.

The introduction of these hybrid trains supports Région Sud’s wider goal of reducing the environmental impact of regional transport while maintaining connectivity across both urban and rural areas.

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