Rediscover the pleasure and whimsy of train travel

Almost five decades after its inception, for the first time in France’s SNCF Voyageurs’ history, the entire train crew was involved in perfecting its fifth-generation high-speed TGV trains’ identity. Conductors and maintenance workers advised on design layouts better suited to their day-to-day tasks. Drivers experienced and then chose between different cab environments via virtual reality technology. And so, in the new InOui TGV trains, these musings collide with French engineering consultancy AREP and Japanese design agency Nendo’s minimalist yet playful design philosophy aptly entitled “Flow.”

Nendo and AREP were inspired by the natural flow of water and envisioned the double-decker, which will travel at speeds of up to 320 kilometers an hour, as a smoothly moving entity across landscapes. A dynamic fluidity through form, texture, and color can be traced across the transfixing formula for the new interiors. With their partnership dating back to 2018, the two studios were led by their desire to create an atmosphere that feels modern and retro at the same time–with bursts of bright color and humor mindfully spread throughout. 

Externally, the new InOui TGV trains feature abstract semi-circles in white and gray splashed across a warm gray base, reminiscent of the gentle ripples and waves of flowing water. Through the use of dark horizontal lines, technical components such as inspection ports and exhaust vents are seamlessly integrated into the overall design. Painted in SNCF’s signature Bordeaux hue, the doors are in stark contrast for accessibility. 

On the inside, the first- and second-class carriages are characterized by a refined mixture of soft shapes. Shades turn darker towards the ground and lighter as the eye rises up to the ceiling. Mirroring the visual depth of a river, this horizontal color division aligns between the seats and the walls, reinforcing the feeling of openness and harmony. 

Designed as shell-like enclosures, the seats include vertically adjustable headrests and lumbar support, with their rounded forms evocative of smooth river stones. They are upholstered in Octaspring, a lightweight and breathable 3D-knitted fabric. А staple on TGVs, Nendo and AREP have reimagined the trains’ table lamps in mustard yellow making them charmingly stand out.

While the new InOui TGV trains’ first-class carriages are defined by a warm palette of Bordeaux and dusky brick red, the second-class carriages shift to calming hues of navy and blue-gray. Accessories such as reading lights, coat hooks, and assist grips further illustrate the central motif of rounded, organic shapes. With their built-in lighting, the overhead luggage racks also exude softness as their anti-fall bars appear to gently move and thus convey the concept of weightlessness and floating. 

The train’s lower deck functions as a café-bar, while the upper deck offers a lounge space with comfortable seating arrangements. Microwaves, extra changing tables, and relaxation areas have been added for families traveling with children. A new car specifically designed for wheelchair users allows them to independently board the train and order food to their seats. 97% of the materials used for the revamp can be recycled. Along with ultra-durable surfaces and structures of the seats and tables, color schemes use natural light to cut down on energy consumption.

With the new InOui TGV trains, France’s national railway operator sets brand new standards for high-speed travel–in style. After undergoing more than a million kilometers of test journeys, the Paris-Lyon-Marseille line will begin taking travelers from the capital to the south coast in just three hours in 2026.