French train company SNCF to auction locomotives for more than €1.2m

French train company SNCF is set to auction off 12 locomotives for more than €1.2million each, between June 27-30.

The Alstom BB27300 electric vehicles from 2006 were used on the Ligne N Transilien route for more than 10 years, between Paris and nearby neighbourhoods, including Rambouillet, Mantes-la-Jolie (Yvelines) and Dreux (Eure-et-Loir).

Despite having more than two million kilometres on the clock on average, they are still in working condition with only minor paint defects and could last for another 15 years or so. They have been regularly maintained as they were still in circulation until recently.

The auction is set to take place on the public goods auction site Agorastore, with prices starting at between €1,294,868 to €1,365,849, depending on the locomotive’s characteristics.

SNCF is introducing new train models and will no longer need these locomotives, hence the auction, which was requested by regional transport managing body Ile-de-France Mobilités (IDFM). Profits will be reinvested in the region’s train network.

Buyers are expected to mainly include cargo transport companies, transport operators or tourism companies, and even smaller, newer competitors to SNCF (such as Le Train and Railcoop).

An Agorastore manager said that because of long order lead times, and the shortage of raw materials, these trains are technically the only models currently being sold worldwide that will be “immediately usable” after purchase.

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