The State of Monaco has agreed to finance the acquisition of four additional TER train carriages through a recently signed agreement with SNCF Sud Azur, the regional railway operator. The total investment amounts to 67.9 million euros, with the new rolling stock expected to enter service during the first half of 2028.
This investment forms part of a long-standing commitment by the Principality to improve rail service to Monaco sustainably. The four new carriages will augment the fleet serving the lines connecting to Monaco, building on previous Monaco-funded acquisitions that included five carriages in 2008 and two additional carriages ordered in 2024, with those entering service in 2027. Once all of the carriages financed by Monaco have been delivered, nearly 30 per cent of the rolling stock serving the line will have been funded by the Principality.
From the moment these new carriages come into service, they will significantly improve passenger transport conditions by increasing capacity through the deployment of more trains in double-length configuration. In a second phase, following the implementation of the new European railway signalling system ERTMS, to which the Principality is also contributing, the new carriages will substantially strengthen the railway offer at Monaco station. The goal is to achieve a TER service every 10 minutes between Nice and Monaco during peak hours. With the new carriages financed by the Principality and the increased frequency made possible by ERTMS, the number of passengers that can be transported daily during peak hours between Nice and Monaco, currently around 12,000, would increase by approximately two-thirds to reach nearly 20,000 passengers.
The train remains an essential mode of transport for joining and leaving the Principality. Used daily by many commuters, residents and visitors, it plays a major role in travel within the Monaco living area. With nearly 9.4 million passengers in 2025, following 9.3 million in 2024, 8 million in 2023 and 6.5 million in 2022, Monaco-Monte-Carlo station ranks among the busiest TER stations in the region.
Celine Caron-Dagioni, Government Adviser-Minister for Equipment, Environment and Urban Development, stated that improving daily travel to and from Monaco is a priority. By financing new TER carriages, the Principality is taking concrete action to strengthen rail service sustainably and support the growth in mobility needs.
