Lighting at the TSEE Technicentre redesigned and modernized to accommodate the TGV M

Location: Lyon, France

As part of the renewal of its high-speed fleet, SNCF is preparing for the launch of the TGV M, a new-generation train combining performance, modularity and energy efficiency. To support the arrival of this new rolling stock, the Technicentre Sud-Est Européen (TSEE), France’s leading TGV maintenance center, has undergone a complete overhaul of its infrastructure.

Located near Lyon and employing almost 850 people, the TSEE maintains a quarter of the TGVs in circulation. To accommodate the TGV M – longer, lighter and capable of carrying a greater number of passengers – all facilities have been redesigned to meet the new technical standards. Among the many improvements carried out, high-performance, robust LED lighting has been deployed in the workshops and maintenance areas.

Sammode was asked to supply luminaires specifically designed for complex railway environments, subject to severe mechanical, chemical and electrical stress. In maintenance gangways, Pascal range luminaires provide functional, safe and uniform lighting, adapted to the varying heights of the structures. In inspection pits, Niepce models, optimized for low-level lighting, guarantee excellent visibility of mechanical components, while resisting splashing, dust and vibration.

Lighting plays a key role in the reliability of maintenance operations. At a time when the TGV M is introducing technologies for remote monitoring of equipment (doors, air conditioning, on-board systems), visual legibility is essential for operators. Sammode luminaires, designed and manufactured in France, feature high-efficiency LED technology and ultra-resistant enclosures, ensuring durability and reduced maintenance requirements.

This redevelopment project, carried out in partnership with Alstom, is part of a vast investment program worth 300 million euros up to 2027. It aims to make the TSEE a benchmark for rail maintenance, aligned with the expected performance of the TGV M: 20% less power consumption, 32% fewer CO₂ emissions, and 97% recyclable materials.

By providing a lighting solution tailored to SNCF’s new industrial and environmental challenges, Sammode confirms its role as a trusted partner for technically demanding transport infrastructures.