France's Alstom launches new high-speed trains

LA ROCHELLE, France, Feb 5 (Reuters) - France's Alstom (ALSO.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) unveiled a new generation of high-speed passenger trains on Tuesday in a bid to keep ahead of rivals Siemens (SIEGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Bombardier (BBDb.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) in the cut-throat multi-billion-dollar rail transport market.

The prototype "AGV" -- a successor to France's distinctive TGV fast train network -- will have a commercial speed of 360 kilometres (224 miles) per hour versus 320 for current models, the manufacturer said.

The train was unveiled at a factory in this historic French port town at a ceremony due to be attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Sarkozy played an important role in a state-orchestrated bail-out of Alstom in 2004.

High-speed trains compete with regional airline destinations for travel time while the electric trains emit far less CO2 greenhouse gases than kerosene-burning aircraft.

Alstom said it has made 70 percent of the trains in the world that run faster than 300 kph.

Alstom has won high-speed train contracts recently in Italy, Argentina and Morocco, while there are big projects on the horizon in California, Brazil or in China for the Shanghai-Beijing link.

"In order to maintain our leadership, we needed to broaden and update our range of products," Executive Chairman Patrick Kron said at the ceremony, noting the company had developed the train using its own funds.

More use of composites and aluminium allowed Alstom to make the latest version lighter, with an entire train weighing 395 tonnes, down from 430 tonnes. They also use 15 percent less power than rivals.