Driving Sustainable Change Through Partnership
Travel sustainability is not just about making individual trips more efficient, it is about long-term collaboration with partners who are actively investing in lower-carbon transport. At Key Travel, we seek out and support suppliers who are leading the way in responsible travel innovation.
SNCF, France’s national rail operator, is one such partner. Their upcoming launch of the next-generation TGV INOUI demonstrates what is possible when environmental ambition is matched with bold investment and design. From energy efficiency and recyclability to improved passenger experience and modular design, the new TGV reflects a comprehensive approach to reducing the environmental footprint of high-speed rail.
This case study explores how SNCF’s vision for the future of rail aligns with Key Travel’s commitment to providing our clients with more sustainable travel choices.
TGV INOUI 2025 : SNCF’s Green revolution
Transport is the biggest contributor of CO2 emissions, accounting for 32% of French CO2 emissions1. On average, rail travel contributes to reducing CO2 emissions by 95% compared with cars and planes1. Train travel is therefore among the most sustainable methods of transport for medium and long-distance transport currently available.
Did you know? An increase of +4°C degrees is expected by 2100 representing a 80% increase in CO2 emissions since 1970. That is why SNCF is preparing and adapting to change, as the increase in temperature will lead to more frequent extreme weather conditions (heat waves, flooding, storms) which will have a great impact globally.
In response, SNCF is launching the new TGV INOUI which will revolutionise rail transport with its modular design and ecological innovations. On track to launch from 2026, the new 5th-generation TGV is modular, 97% recycled and energy efficient.
No train has ever logged so many kilometers in test phase
The new TGV INOUI set a record even before entering commercial service, travelling 1 million km in 350 weeks of testing. More than any train in trial phase. A striking figure that reflects the sheer scale of the project, launched when SNCF placed a €3.5bn order for 115 trainsets with Alstom in 2018.
TGV M ‘M for modularity’
Modular, modern and mastery are features built into this 5ᵗʰ-generation TGV—TGV M.
The new TGV INOUI has more capacity: 9 coaches, up from 8boost seats on board by 20%, to a maximum 740 and trainsets are themselves modular! Interiors can be reconfigured, with 1st class coaches converted to 2nd and vice versa. Luggage racks and bike spaces (8 in all) are also adjustable.
‘M for mastery’
A full 100 tonnes of materials are recycled, 25% of the total, giving this high-speed train the lowest carbon footprint on the market. Its sleek composite nose has been redesigned for enhanced aerodynamic performance, making it 20% more energy-efficient than the prior generation. Together, these breakthrough technologies reduce CO2 emissions by 50% compared with single-deck TGVs.
M for “Made in France”
The new TGV is entirely designed and assembled in France
100% connected
On-board Wi-Fi architecture complies with the latest 5G standards to deliver an outstanding travel experience, including access to connected services for passengers, with full real-time connectivity in each carriage.
- 100% French design
- 97% of materials in the new TGV INOUI are recyclable
- 20% more seats on board
- 8 places for bicycles (not dismantled)
- 20% more luggage space than on 4th-generation TGVs
- 90% of seat materials are recyclable
Over 400 innovations, including a world first
The TGV M project is a distillation of cutting-edge technology, with over 400 innovations. These include a world first: the “graft”, a revolutionary battery that lets trains continue to operate even when main power fails. This emergency solution uses backup batteries that can power trains to the nearest station, keeping traffic running smoothly even after a breakdown.
Sleek, timeless design
Created by our multidisciplinary agency AREP and Japanese designers at Nendo, the train’s exterior blends seamlessly into the environment. Interiors were created to meet the needs of passengers, train managers and drivers.
Exteriors break with tradition
The new TGV’s redesigned nose features an extended black ellipse for a new look. More aerodynamic, it also offers significant energy savings. Uncluttered livery adds a note of elegance, and tougher exterior paint has greater reflective power, limiting energy consumption in hot weather.
Meeting everyone’s needs
For the first time in TGV’s history, all crew members, train managers, drivers, technicians, maintenance staff and more, were consulted on interior features. Virtual reality tools helped create an optimised driver’s cabin and a coach dedicated to wheelchair-bound passengers. Seats use a 3D woven fabric, with 85% wool fibre and a useful life estimated at 30 years. Innovative foam was tested on 125 body types for greater passenger comfort, while onboard toilets were revisited and expanded. Last, but not least, 3 bike spaces are available in each trainset, and up to 8 non-dismantled bikes can be carried board.
Bistro replaces café-restaurant
A core feature of the new train design is Le Bistro, replacing café-bars in earlier models. Positioned in coach 4, this occupies both upper and lower levels, with a staircase linking the two. Customers purchase refreshments on the lower level, at a convenience store and self-service fridges. They pay at automated terminals, with baristas on hand to help out. The bright, airy upper level is welcoming, with 28 seats and room for more clients standing.
The new TGV Inoui embodies SNCF’s vision of rail transport that is smart, inclusive and respectful of the environment, ready to redefine the rail travel experience with sustainable passenger-centred innovations.
Lawrence Taché SNCF’s Travel Agencies and Distribution Director : "I am delighted to work in close partnership in the UK and in Europe with Key Travel whose vision is totally aligned to SNCF’s when it comes to sustainable travel.”
Pascal Loiller – Director of European Travel Agencies – “Key Travel is a major actor in the TMC world in the UK but also in other European countries and together with the SNCF Head of Sales form a great working partnership which has grown over the year and is going from strength to strength. Without playing on words, Key Travel is truly a ‘Key partner’ of SNCF “
Key Travel European Rail Travel
Through our partnership with SNCF, Key Travel customers have full access to sustainable travel choices, both online and offline within France, and certain cross-border trains through to Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Services include, but are not limited to, TGV, Intercités, TER, Thalys and TGV Lyria, as well as the significant inclusion of Beyond Eurostar, meaning our customers can book onward tickets to regional locations on the same fare from Eurostar-operated destinations.
Benefits:
- Bookers gain a wider choice when looking for sustainable travel options within Europe.
- Bookers save time by being able to self-service EU rail online
- As part of their policy, travel managers have the option to block European flights online in preference for rail travel in order to drive their organisation’s sustainability agenda.
Via KT Online, travellers can book standard or first-class fares and will receive PDF-based e- tickets (note: mobile tickets are not supported). This removes the need to obtain physical tickets, which saves time and is the greener option.
All rail journeys will show the carbon output for each leg in CO2e, enabling customers to see the extent to which they are reducing their carbon impact when compared to the flight equivalent.
"At Key Travel, we believe that the future of travel must be both purposeful and sustainable. Working with forward-thinking partners like SNCF, enables us to offer our clients more environmentally responsible choices, without compromising on experience or efficiency. The launch of the next-generation TGV INOUI is a powerful example of how innovation can reduce emissions at scale, and we are proud to stand alongside SNCF in our combined vision to advance more sustainable ways to travel across Europe." Saad Hammad, Key Travel CEO
1"Planète Voyages": for greener mobility | SNCF Voyageurs
Image Credits: "250306 - TGV34566, 250306 - TGV34296, 250306 - TGV34697" by Yann Audic, used under "conditions utilisation des visuels" (Copyrighted). All rights reserved.