2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Autorail Renault VH2211 Mulhouse FRA 001: ignis· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2. Autorail Renault VH Nord: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
what is it?
Renault VH is the first standard-gauge railcar produced by Renault in large numbers, starting in 1933. One hundred units were manufactured in the Ile Seguin factories near Paris. The units ran on various SNCF lines until 1970.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 93 years ago, in 1933.
- Weighs about as much as 5 African elephants (~6 t each).
- 21 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
- Served for 36 years (1933–1969).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1933
- in service from
- 1933
- retired
- 1969
- status
- retired
- number built
- 115
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- diesel
- origin
- 🇫🇷 France
- builders
- Renault
- operators
- Société nationale des chemins de fer français, Chemins de fer du Nord, Chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans et du Midi, Chemins de fer de l'Est, Chemins de fer de l'État, Compagnie des chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée
- top speed
- 100 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- length
- 21 m
- weight
- 27.4 t
- capacity
- 70 passengers
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q2948622, Wikipedia: Renault VH (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.