France has recently revealed its attractive new TGV Inoui trains, serving as an envy-provoking example of how urgently America needs its railway revival.
The TGV Inoui is a rapid transit train network Traveling at approximately 200 miles per hour, this system links France’s principal urban centers and also offers routes to Italy, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. On Tuesday, the manufacturing firm Alstom along with the TGV’s operator, SNCF Voyageurs, unveiled the entirely new fifth-generation TGV Inoui Interior design at Paris's Gare de Lyon.
The upcoming train set to debut in 2026 features a vibrantly colored design, a modern bar car, and enhanced spaces for passengers using wheelchairs—indicating that, at present, the U.S. railway network may still seem outdated compared to more advanced systems worldwide.
An interior fit for a ’70s space age mood board
Alstom reports that over 2,000 designers embarked on an ambitious project to develop the new TGV Inoui carriages from the ground up. These trains are designed with modularity in mind, enabling their configuration to change within just one day to meet specific travel requirements. Composed largely of recyclable components—about 97%—these trains can accommodate up to 740 passengers, marking a 20% increase in passenger numbers compared to earlier models. Additionally, they boast being 20% more efficient in terms of energy consumption relative to the preceding generation of trains.
Although many trains generally adopt a single-colored scheme like gray or blue, the TGV Inoui carriages stand out as a playful exploration in hues and forms. Conceived by the French design firm, AREP and Japanese design firm Nendo The vehicles showcase a gentle color scheme featuring primary shades of red, blue, and yellow, enhanced by curved forms. This blend of soothing tones alongside the train’s smooth metal accents gives the entire cabin an appealing '70s futuristic look.
Based on a press statement, the designers adopted the idea of "flow" as their main guideline, drawing inspiration from natural water currents to determine the arrangement of furniture and color choices.
“[The train] makes its way through the landscape, rather like the flow of a river,” the release reads. “The designers played with the idea of depth inside, with a strong horizon line running through all the elements and giving the impression of the surface of water. The flow is inspired by the soft shapes of pebbles and objects polished by water, which can be seen in the details of the seats and the lamp, as well as the use of darker materials in the lower section and lighter ones above.”
One of those refined elements—the table lamp—has consistently appeared in previous versions of TGV trains. However, AREP and Nendo have elevated this feature further. In the latest models, these lamps stand out as the most vibrant component inside, showcased in vivid canary yellow intended to add "a touch of humor" to each space within the carriages.
The restrooms have been increased in size and enhanced with frosted windows that let in natural sunlight. Impressively spacious staircases enable travelers to move seamlessly between the first and second floors. The bar carriage now spans two levels: the ground floor features a self-serve pantry area complete with full-sized beverage refrigerators, while the upper level offers a bistro-style dining zone equipped with booth seating where guests can savor their meals.
For the very first time, this train includes a loading platform designed specifically for wheelchair users to access the area independently. Additionally, it features increased accessibility with extra seats and clearer signs. This design philosophy prioritizes enhancing every rider's journey rather than merely optimizing available space.
Why isn't something like this available in the U.S.?
As French citizens revel in the latest TGV innovations, their counterparts in America are using Twitter to bemoan the absence of comparable transportation alternatives stateside.
Under a tweet showcasing the new train cars One user commented, "Trains would be the premium mode of public transportation in the U.S. if only they were faster," to which the initial commenter replied, "It’s a disappointing situation for a nation that was fundamentally developed through railroads."
As France progresses to its fifth generation of high-speed trains and, Japan has furthermore introduced an additional cutting-edge bullet train. to its already advanced arsenal The U.S. has not fully set out on this journey yet. building high-speed rail infrastructure The nearest we've gotten so far is Amtrak's Acela service in the northeastern region. which still moves at just 160 miles per hour Most of the other Amtrak services aren't significantly quicker than an ordinary car.
To be honest, we are starting to get somewhat nearer to adopting passenger rail travel more enthusiastically. Amtrak had a record-breaking year in 2024 , moving an all-time high of 32.8 million riders between October 2023 and September 2024. The company is striving to increase its number of passengers twofold to reach 66 million by 2024 by constructing additional pathways, upgrading part of its train fleet with speedier models, and revamping its facilities. In the meantime, The privately operated rail serviceBrightline has become popular in Florida and is presently under construction a line connecting Las Vegas and Los Angeles , set to become the nation's first genuine high-speed rail system.
Despite these advancements, the U.S. remains far behind nations such as France, Japan, Switzerland, and China. For the time being, we must satisfy ourselves with admiring the TGV Inoui from afar and fantasizing about traveling across the country by train. That doesn’t require 96 hours. .
This blog post initially appeared here Pawonation.com
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