SNCF Voyageurs has completed the modernization of its 200th TER trainset under the OPTER mid-life renovation programme. The project, launched in 2018, covers 40% of the regional TER fleet operated on behalf of 12 French Regions and Luxembourg Railways (CFL), with EUR 2.3bn in contracted funding.
OPTER involves dismantling, refurbishing and upgrading trainsets after around 20 years of service to extend their operational life by a further two decades.
The programme covers multiple rolling stock types, including TER 2N NG double-deck EMUs and AGC multiple units. The first renovated TER 2N NG for CFL left the Saint-Pierre-des-Corps facility in February 2023, followed by the first refurbished AGC for the Grand Est region from the Nevers-Languedoc site in March 2023. The 100th OPTER trainset was delivered in April 2025 and the 150th in November 2025.
According to SNCF Voyageurs, each refurbished train emits 50% less CO₂ than procuring new rolling stock and reduces energy consumption by 15% compared with its pre-renovation state. Interior layouts are redesigned to improve accessibility and capacity, including wheelchair spaces and bicycle areas, while upgrades can include new seating, lighting, air-conditioning adjustments, power sockets, Wi-Fi and onboard passenger information systems.
The programme represents around nine million working hours over a ten-year period. Since 2022, more than 3,000 staff have been recruited to support the ramp-up of refurbishment activities across the participating industrial sites.
