The launch of SNCF's new high-speed train on routes to Italy has been postponed once more, with the start of service now pushed back to 2028, according to Sud Ouest. The French rail operator and manufacturer Alstom had already seen the rollout of the train, known as the TGV M, fall behind its original schedule.
The delay is not limited to cross-border service. Several French outlets report that SNCF and Alstom have again moved the commercial launch of the TGV M in France, now set for autumn 2026. Among the reasons cited is the need to carry out final adjustments to the train before it carries passengers.
Alstom produces the TGV M for SNCF. According to L'Usine Nouvelle, the companies described the extra time as a deliberate decision, saying they had chosen to give themselves more room before entry into service.
The repeated postponements mark a further setback for a train that has been presented as a central part of SNCF's fleet renewal. Each new date has followed a previous one, with the French launch and the Italian route both affected by the latest revisions.
What to watch next: whether SNCF and Alstom hold to the autumn 2026 target for France, and whether the 2028 date for Italy shifts again.
