France is testing an innovative transport concept that could bring thousands of kilometres of abandoned railway lines back into use. The new road-rail electric vehicles, known as “ferromobiles,” are designed to travel on both conventional roads and railway tracks, offering rural communities a sustainable alternative to private cars.
The project aims to reconnect small villages using infrastructure that is no longer economically viable for conventional rail services while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road transport.
Road and Rail in One Vehicle
France has nearly 6,000 kilometres of disused railway lines that are no longer used by passenger trains. Rather than rebuilding them for traditional rail operations, engineers have developed a simpler and more affordable solution.
Engineering company SICEF has modified the all-electric Peugeot e-Traveller by equipping it with retractable railway wheels alongside its standard road tyres. While driving on public roads, the rail wheels remain raised. Before entering a railway line, they are lowered onto the tracks, allowing the vehicle to continue its journey on rail.
AI Controls the Vehicle on Railway Tracks
On conventional roads, the vehicle is driven by a human driver. Once on the railway, artificial intelligence takes control of navigation, allowing the vehicle to operate safely along the track without manual steering.
The dual-mode vehicle accommodates up to eight passengers, making it suitable for serving sparsely populated rural communities.
Flexible Rural Transport
The proposed service could operate on fixed timetables with shorter waiting times or as an on-demand transport system that passengers book through a smartphone app, similar to a taxi service.
Developers believe the concept could improve mobility in remote areas where maintaining conventional rail services is no longer financially sustainable, while encouraging residents to switch from private cars to cleaner forms of transport.
If successful, the project could provide a new future for thousands of kilometres of abandoned railway infrastructure across France, combining electric mobility, artificial intelligence and existing rail assets to create a more environmentally friendly transport network.
Photo credit: Ferromobile
