Transdev Group Marks Historic Launch of ZOU! Rail Service in France
Transdev U.S. is proud to celebrate an exciting and historic achievement by our global colleagues at Transdev: the official launch of the new ZOU! train service between Marseille, Toulon, and Nice in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region of France. This landmark moment marks the first-ever opening of regional rail to competition in France, and Transdev is leading the way.
On June 30, Chairman and CEO of Transdev Group Thierry Mallet joined municipal and regional officials to launch the service, which began operations the day prior. With this project, Transdev is delivering a completely reimagined passenger rail experience, underpinned by innovation, sustainability, and regional connectivity.
Doubling Service and Elevating the Passenger Experience
This new rail operation will double the number of trains along the iconic southern France coastline, offering:
- Hourly service on weekdays (14 round trips daily, 16 on weekends).
- Extended operating hours from 6 am – 9 pm.
- Nine stations served between Marseille and Nice, with a total journey time of just 2 hours and 40 minutes.
- More than 180 new direct jobs created.
- Over 92,000 tickets were sold before the June 29 service start date.
- Unchanged fares for current subscribers, with a 20% reduction starting July 1.
A Commitment to Reliable, Electric Rail Solutions
The new service is supported by a fleet that includes 16 electric trainsets manufactured by Alstom in northern France. Up to 400 passengers can be seated on each train set, and up to 730 passengers can be seated in a double-set configuration. To support long-term reliability and service quality, a new 2,000 m² (21,527.8-square-foot) eco-responsible maintenance center has been constructed in Nice.
Proudly Supporting Our Global Colleagues
“As part of the Transdev Group, we are thrilled to see this milestone come to life,” said Laura Hendricks, CEO of Transdev U.S. “It is inspiring to witness the innovation and excellence our colleagues in France are delivering to passengers and communities. This achievement showcases Transdev’s global rail expertise and our shared mission to provide safe, reliable, and forward-thinking transit solutions.”
“By entrusting Transdev with the management of this line, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region is allowing us to demonstrate what we do best: bringing people and regions closer together by delivering a reliable, comfortable, and humane transport service,” added Thierry Mallet, Chairman and CEO of Transdev.
With more than 25 years of international rail experience, Transdev is setting a new standard for passenger service and regional mobility. We are honored to stand with our colleagues in celebrating this bold step forward in the future of transportation.
For more information about the historic launch of ZOU!, read more here: New ZOU! train service between Marseille, Toulon and Nice.
