Railcoop: Lyon-Bordeaux train available starting summer 2024

Future competitor of SNCF on the Bordeaux-Lyon line, Railcoop is advancing the start-up date of its first trains to ensure its finances, with limited traffic however.

We discussed this in January, the beginnings of Railcoop will indeed take place next year. The cooperative announced that the Bordeaux-Lyon line will be operational from June 2024. This will be the first train line competing with SNCF at regular speed, between cities outside Paris. Because at high speed, Trenitalia has been operating on the Paris-Lyon-Milan route since the end of 2022.

An early but limited Railcoop service start

To ensure its survival, Railcoop will indeed put a train into service, but with a limited route. The Bordeaux-Lyon line will operate only once a day, meaning a one-way trip every two days. “A consultation with members is ongoing,” explains Railcoop, “to finalize the definition of a first service that is indeed more modest than initially planned but satisfying the greatest number.” No prices yet, but it is known that tickets will be sold online as well as directly on the trains.

Because to operate this daily trip, “members have chosen to primarily fund this first passenger service with their own funds.” The estimated total is 4.1 million euros, “to cover the necessary tangible and intangible investments.” Therefore, this amount will need to be raised through the two ongoing fundraising campaigns.

What train for the future Bordeaux-Lyon rival to SNCF?

The Bordeaux-Lyon line will feature two trains purchased by Railcoop, with two and three cars. From the late 1990s, these trains have been gradually retired since 2015 on the TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes network. Their renovation is taking place in Clermont-Ferrand, at ACC Mobility.

This will not be Railcoop’s first activity, as it already operates freight trains between Capdenac (Aveyron) and Saint-Gaudens (Haute-Garonne).

Also read: Summer holidays: SNCF tickets available for sale