Velvet: Redefining Rail Travel with Seamless Innovation and Joyful Experiences
According to a recent announcement, Proxima is stepping into the high-speed rail scene with its new brand, Velvet.This fresh venture aims to redefine open access rail travel in France.
On July 1, co-founder rachel Picard shared that Velvet’s mission is to create a user-friendly and enjoyable travel experience, targeting those who find train travel overly intricate.The company has conducted thorough research on what passengers truly want and believes that being a newcomer allows them to break away from the conventional practices of existing operators.
The Birth of Proxima
Cofounded in 2021 by Picard and Timothy Jackson, Proxima was born out of a shared vision for sustainable long-distance travel. Jackson noted that despite the growing demand for eco-friendly options post-COVID, many potential travelers are still opting for less sustainable modes due to limited capacity. “We realized we could fill this gap with Project Proxima,” he explained.
This past July, they secured €1 billion in funding from Antin Infrastructure Partners along with several banks. By October, they placed an order for twelve nine-car Avelia Horizon trainsets from Alstom.
The progress process has been aided by Onepoint and N+P Innovation Design; currently, the first power car is being assembled at Alstom’s facility in Belfort while production of the initial coach kicks off in la Rochelle.
The first train is set for testing in 2026 as it awaits type approval from its manufacturer. Deliveries are anticipated at one per month starting in late 2028.
Aiming High
In June construction began on Marcheprime Lisea Technicentre where about eighty Alstom employees will maintain Velvet’s fleet; daily operations will require ten or eleven trainsets.
A New Era
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