Altéo

MI 2N "Altéo"
(Class Z 1500)
A refurbished MI 2N "Altéo" at Boissy-Saint-Léger on the RER A line.
In service6 June 1997–present
ManufacturersGEC Alsthom and ANF
Family nameMI 2N, X'Trapolis
Constructed1995–2005
Entered service6 June 1997
Refurbished2019–2021 (expected)
Number in service43 trainsets (215 cars)
Formation5 cars per trainset (R+M+M+M+R)
Fleet numbersZ 1501/2 - Z 1585/6
OperatorsRATP, SNCF
Depots
  • Achères
  • Rueil-Malmaison
  • Sucy-en-Brie
  • Torcy
Line served
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel
Train length112 m (367 ft 5 in)
Car length22 m (72 ft 2 in)
Width2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height4.32 m (14 ft 2 in)
Doors2 × 3 per car
Maximum speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Weight288 t (283 long tons; 317 short tons)
Traction systemGEC Alstom GTO CSI
Traction motors12 × 325 kW (436 hp) 4 FXA 3561 asynchronous, 550 V, force ventilated
Power output3,900 kW (5,230 hp)
Tractive effort350 kN
Acceleration1.15 m/s2 (3.8 ft/s2)
Deceleration
  • 1.15 m/s2 (3.8 ft/s2) (service)
  • 1.25 m/s2 (4.1 ft/s2) (emergency)
Power supply380V/50Hz
Electric systems
Current collectionPantograph (type AX 25)
UIC classification2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
Braking systemsRegenerative, disc and electrodynamic Eddy current brake
Safety systemSACEM
Coupling systemScharfenberg type
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The MI 2N "Altéo" (French: Matériel d'Interconnexion à 2 Niveaux, lit.'two-level interconnection rolling stock'), also designated Class Z 1500, is a double-deck, dual-voltage electric multiple unit (EMU) operated on RER A, part of the Réseau Express Régional (RER), a hybrid suburban commuter and rapid transit system serving Paris and the surrounding Île-de-France region.

The MI 2N "Altéo" is the version of the MI 2N series developed for the RATP Group. It closely resembles the SNCF Class Z 22500 (MI 2N "Éole") operated by SNCF, although the two variants differ in their motorization and interior layout.

A total of 43 five-car trainsets were built by a consortium of Alstom (then GEC Alsthom) and Bombardier. Final assembly took place at Alstom's facility in Valenciennes and Bombardier's plant in Crespin between 1995 and 2005. The first unit entered service in 1996.

The development of the MI 2N was driven by the need to increase capacity on RER A, one of the busiest rail lines in the world. Each trainset can accommodate up to 2,600 passengers, significantly more than the approximately 1,887 passengers carried by the single-deck trains previously in use. Due to the success of the MI 2N, RATP later ordered 140 MI 09 trainsets, an updated version of the design, from the same Alstom–Bombardier consortium.