SNCF Class Z 50000

The SNCF Class Z 50000 (Technical Name), also known as the 'Francilien' (Operating Name), or 'NAT' (Project Name for , English: "New Rail car Transilien") is a type of dual-voltage electric multiple unit trainset designed in the 2000s. It is commuter rail system serving Paris and its Île-de-France suburbs on the Transilien network. Departing stations are Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est and Gare Saint-Lazare.
A total of 360 trainsets have either been built or are under construction by Canadian conglomerate Bombardier at its Crespin, France (near Valenciennes) factory since 2006. The first set was placed into regular passenger service on 14 December 2009.
The name Francilien is also the demonym for people living in Île-de-France. The manufacturer brands this equipment as the SPACIUM 3.06, in reference to the width of the cars.
History.
In 2004, the Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (STIF, the transit authority for the Paris region until June 2017) began the tendering process for approximately 180 new electric multiple unit trainsets to replace SNCF's aging single-deck suburban fleet, including trainsets nicknamed "“inox”" (short for "inoxydable," English: "stainless" [steel]) (Classes Z 5300, Z 6100, Z 6400) and similar push-pull trainsets known as RIB () and RIO (). The SNCF and STIF requested bids for a train design that could operate on a typical journey of in length, including numerous stops lasting 30 to 40 seconds, and able to operate from either 1.5 kV DC or 25 kV AC overhead catenary electrification.
Alstom, Bombardier, and Siemens all submitted bids for the project. In 2006, SNCF (French Railway Company) and Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (STIF, the transit authority for the Paris region until June 2017) awarded the contract to "Bombardier" with a firm order for 172 ‘Francilien’ trainsets at a cost of €1.85 billion, with an option for 200 more.
"Bombardier" presented the Spacium vehicle at Crespin on 6 February 2009. The first service operated by a "Francilien" train was on Transilien Line H from Paris Gare du Nord to Luzarches on Sunday 13 December 2009. As of December 2018, 360 trainsets had been ordered, and about 240 were in active service.
Design.
Bombardier vehicle design is articulated using Jakobs bogies between the carriages. Seating is in a 3+2 layout giving over 400 seats in a seven-car unit, over 500 in an eight-car set. Total capacity exceeds 800 (or 1,000 in eight-car trains) including standing passengers at . The vehicle's width is , which is wider than previous trains, achieved by having a relatively short car length of . The inter-carriage passages have wide, open gangway connections, limiting bottlenecking. All interior lights are provided by light-emitting diodes (LED), so power consumption is lessened.