Siemens have also started promoting battery trains for the UK, and touting Goole as a place to produce them.

I'm wondering what Alstom and CAF are cooking.

I don't disagree.

In my view it's about market segmentation. By having Ouigo as an established low-cost brand, there's a reason for a company like Flixtrain to stay out of the French market.

Small correction, these trains cannot do 1.5 kV DC :)