The Brittany region is taking a step towards decarbonizing its trains. The famous "Tire-bouchon" (Corkscrew), the seasonal service that connects Auray to Quiberon during the summer, will be the first Breton line to run on B100, a biofuel produced from rapeseed. This small tourist train will serve as a testbed for the gradual transformation of the entire regional rail network.
A gradual rollout until 2027
The schedule calls for a gradual ramp-up. After the Tire-bouchon line, other secondary lines will be equipped before Rennes station, the main Breton rail hub, switches to biofuel in 2027. This transition only concerns thermal TER trains, which still run on diesel due to the lack of complete electrification of the network.
B100 offers the advantage of significantly reducing CO2 emissions while adapting to existing engines without major modifications. Brittany thus joins other French regions that are testing or deploying this alternative fuel on their non-electrified lines. The switch to biofuel appears to be a transitional solution while awaiting the complete electrification of the regional rail network.
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