Stadler delivers first train for the Mont Blanc Express

On 24 April 2025, Stadler has delivered the first of seven 1,000 mm-gauge EMUs to Transports de Martigny et Régions (TMR) and SNCF. Built in Bussnang, the new trains will be introduced into passenger service from mid-2026.

The delivery of the first train marks the start of the next chapter in cross-border rail transport in the Mont-Blanc region. TMR and SNCF, the two operating companies of the Mont-Blanc Express, will replace the legacy fleet, improving comfort and the overall passenger experience on the historic route between Martigny in Switzerland and St-Gervais-les-Bains-le-Fayet in France, at the foot of Mont Blanc.

"We transported the first vehicle by rail from Bussnang to Martigny on a low-loader wagon in an environmentally friendly way," explains Frédéric Evequoz, Sales Manager for customised vehicles at Stadler. In Martigny, the specialists then reloaded the train onto a lorry and put it on the narrow-gauge line. "The train will now be transferred to the TMR workshop in Vernayaz, where it will be prepared for commissioning and for the process to authorise operation on the Swiss and French rail networks." 

The new Class Beh 4/8 EMUs can run in multiple units, thereby increasing capacity during periods of high passenger volume. The large panoramic windows on the new trains offer passengers fantastic views of the spectacular Alpine landscape. Other features:
- The trains are designed for combined use on cogwheel and adhesion lines. They can also run in double traction on the cogwheel section.
- The trains are fully compliant with the Swiss Disability Discrimination Act (BehiG) and enable seamless boarding for passengers with reduced mobility.
- Modern consumption control systems ensure environmentally-friendly operation. For example, braking energy is converted into electrical energy and fed back into the grid.
- The vehicles meet the highest ecological standards. Among other things, they feature energy-efficient air conditioning systems.

Cross-border project for a superior travel experience

The modernisation of the fleet is part of the public transport strategy for the Mont Blanc region. The project is supported by the Swiss Confederation, the canton of Valais and the French Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA). The cost of the seven new trains is CHF 76 million. All units will be delivered by autumn 2025 and gradually introduced into service from mid-2026.

The Mont-Blanc Express has been connecting Martigny in the canton of Valais with St-Gervais-les-Bains in the French region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes for more than a hundred years. TMR operates the section on the Swiss side up to the border at Le Châtelard, while SNCF is responsible for operations in France.