French trains too tall for Italian tunnels: National operator faces ridicule after ordering multi-million-pound fleet that cannot operate its cross-Europe routes
- French train operator SNCF is spending €15bn upgrading its infrastructure
- However, its new trains are several millimetres too tall to go to Italy
- Earlier, engineers found the new trains were too wide for many platforms
- Passengers will now be forced to change to a smaller train at the border
France’s national rail operator SNCF - which runs its prestigious TGV fast trains – has sparked ridicule after ordering a multi-million pound fleet of trains that are too tall to fit in Italy’s tunnels.
The spectacular blunder from rail bosses means the cross-Europe trains will have to stop before entering Italy, where passengers will have to board a smaller train.
The new trains are several milimetres higher than the maximum height of the tunnels along the Riviera coastline route, according to Nice Matin newspaper.
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French train operator SNCF has commissioned new trains that are too big to fit in Italian tunnels
French rail operator SNCF says the trains will be put into service this week - but only as far as the French border.
Last year, the national rail operator cost taxpayers dearly after they bought 2,000 trains that are 1.2in too wide for its platforms. As a result, 1,300 stations were upgraded, with workers chpping off the edges of platforms.
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At the time, Jean-Claude Delarue, of transport pressure group SOS-Usagers, said: ‘It is hugely embarrassing.’ So far, 300 platforms have been fixed, causing huge disruption. Bosses have set aside £45million, but the total cost may exceed £100million.’
The mistake was made as part of a €15 billion makeover of France’s Regional Express Trains.
It is thought track owner RFF gave the wrong measurements to train operator SNCF. The numbers were correct for platforms built within the last 30 years, but many are far older, and were not built to standard size.
SNCF has spent €15 billion on a major upgrade, but has faced numerous problems with its new trains
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