A lightweight composite train reinvents rural railways

 Designed to bring a new life to the small railway lines in rural France, Draisy is a very light electric train intended for passenger transport. The currently under development vehicle, using composites, must be able to adapt to the ageing infrastructure in place.


photo: Draisy’s floors, ceilings and driver’s cab feature composites © Lohr-Haiku Design

In some rural areas of France, cows are no longer watching the trains go by. once well served, these areas are now suffering from the loss of steam on some of the smaller railway lines. The French government has therefore launched an investment programme and a call for expressions of interest (AMI) entitled “Digitalisation and Decarbonisation of Rail Transport”.

It is in this context that the French company Lohr has distinguished itself. Winner alongside the SNCF (French national railway company), which is piloting the project, and 3 other partners – GCK Battery, Stations-e and the IRT Railenium – the mobility specialist has developed a small electric train, Draisy, equipped with batteries and a patented axle technology capable of operating on existing, sometimes ageing, railway installations to serve the almost 9,000 km of ‘fine service’ lines in France.

A railway system

These lines are currently used by TERs (Regional Express Trains), “heavy and expensive trains,” states Julien Rat, head of Lohr group’s rail activities. “Draisy is not just a train, it’s a railway system. We work on signalling as well as maintenance and infrastructure. GCK Battery is developing the battery, Stations-e is recharging it, and Railenium is working on predisposition for autonomous driving,” explains Julien Rat.