TGV M is a next-generation high-speed double-decker train with a longer and more aerodynamic nose, presented by French railway company SNCF and train manufacturer Alstom. The first ready-made train is perfect for the French countryside, reports CNN.

Alstom called the new train “TGV of the future”. TGV – Train à Grand Vitesse, which means high-speed train. It will be launched on the Paris rail network in 2024 and across the country over the next 10 years. TGV is one of the world’s most famous high-speed train brands and has been a mainstay of European rail transport since the early 1980s.

In 2018, state-owned French railway company SNCF, which controls TGV, ordered 100 TGV M trains, also known as Avelia Horizon trains. Their total value was 2.7 billion euros. In August 2022, an additional 15 trains were ordered. Most of them will operate in France, but 15 will ride internationally.

TGV M will operate at the same maximum speed as the previous generation TGV trains – 350 kilometers per hour.

“In 2022, we don’t want to go faster,” Alstom spokesman Philippe Molitor said, explaining that their goal instead is high-speed trains that hold more people and consume less energy.

The TGV M trains don’t just have noses that are 40.5 centimeters longer than their predecessors, they are bigger all round. The larger cabins of the carriages can accommodate up to 740 seats, compared to the current maximum of 634 seats.

The TGV Ms also features what manufacturer Alstom calls “unprecedented modularity”, meaning the internal configuration of the train can be easily adjusted. The carriage can be converted from second class to first class and back or adapted to accommodate bulky luggage or bicycles. There will also be special areas for passengers to socialize on board to offer variety and flexibility during long journeys.

According to Alstom, the design improves the current energy efficiency and reduces the carbon footprint of the TGV, as 97% of the train’s components can now be recycled. It also boasts accessibility with a lift platform that will allow wheelchair users to board the train independently, and an on-board sound system to assist visually impaired travelers. Larger windows will create a better view and the TGV lighting will adapt depending on the natural light outside.

After the presentation of the first finished TGV M train, the next step will be a “long trial period”, the first phase of which will start in the Czech Republic at the end of 2022.