Monaco has signed a new agreement with rail operator SNCF Sud Azur to fund the acquisition of four additional TER trains, in an investment of €67.9 million aimed at significantly increasing capacity on the line serving the Principality.
The new trains are expected to enter service in the first half of 2028 and will join a fleet that Monaco has been steadily building for nearly two decades. The Principality previously funded five trains in 2008 and placed an order for two further trains in 2024, which are due to enter service in 2027. Once all Monaco-funded trains are operational, the Principality will have financed close to 30% of the total rolling stock serving the line.
A train every ten minutes at peak hours
The immediate impact of the new trains will be felt through increased capacity, with more services able to run in long formation — double sets — during peak periods. A second and more significant improvement will follow once the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), to which Monaco is also contributing financially, comes into operation. At that point, the combination of new rolling stock and improved signalling is expected to make it possible to run a TER service every 10 minutes between Nice and Monaco during peak hours.
The projected effect on daily passenger numbers is substantial. The current capacity during peak hours stands at around 12,000 passengers per day between Nice and Monaco. With the new trains and the increased frequency made possible by ERTMS, that figure is expected to rise by approximately two thirds, to around 20,000 passengers per day.
Monaco’s busiest transport corridor
Monaco-Monte-Carlo station is among the most frequented regional rail stations in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, with nearly 9.4 million passengers recorded in 2025, up from 9.3 million in 2024, 8 million in 2023, and 6.5 million in 2022. The line serves a mix of daily commuters, residents, and visitors, making it one of the Principality’s most critical transport links.
Céline Caron-Dagioni, Government Councillor-Minister for Infrastructure, Environment and Urban Planning, said: “Improving daily travel to and from Monaco is a priority. By funding new TER trains, the Principality is taking concrete action to sustainably strengthen rail services and meet growing mobility needs.”
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Photo source: Government Communications Department