Costing 1·3m euros each, the ATERs were ordered in conjunction with several of France's 22 régions, which have placed firm orders for 101 and intend to buy up to 100 more. SNCF expects to have 25 in service by the end of the year, and all 101 by 2001. German Railway is also buying 40, designated VT641. The design was developed jointly by De Dietrich and LHB, both of which have since been acquired by Alstom.
The 28·9m long ATER weighs 49 tonnes, and is powered by two MAN D 2886 LUH 21 engines of 257 kW, driving one axle on each bogie through Voith T211rzze gearboxes. Top speed is 140 km/h. The 1300mm wide entrance doors are located in a low-floor centre section 550mm above rail leve[...]