France’s Unique Project: The "Ferromobil" That Operates on Both Roads and Rails

A special vehicle has been developed in France to make use of abandoned railways. A company called SiCef aims to produce small microbuses capable of moving both on the ground and on rails. The vehicle, named "Ferromobil," is primarily intended for use in rural areas where cars are heavily utilized. The total length of unused railways in the country reaches 5,700 kilometers. Engineers have developed additional equipment that allows the vehicle to easily get on and off the rails. The Peugeot e-Traveller microbus was selected for this purpose. Consequently, these vehicles can be driven on both standard roads and railways. This unique transport will first be tested on the Courpière-Vertolaye route in the Auvergne region. If successful, it will also be deployed in other areas such as Occitanie, Brittany, and New Aquitaine. The 8-seater ferromobiles will be available for rent. Additionally, passenger transportation will be established on the railways using these vehicles. While on the rails, the vehicle will operate autonomously without a driver. Standard Peugeot e-Traveller vehicles run entirely on electric power. Designed for large families, this vehicle can travel 330–350 kilometers on a single charge.