Discover Top Posts Tagged with #rer

"Well hey. At least we're in it together, right?"

Resident Evil 4 Remastered (2023)

Resident Evil Requiem (2026)

#re9 #rer #resident evil #resident evil requiem #resident evil 9 #leon s. kennedy #leon kennedy #ashley graham #grace ashcroft #videogameedit #usermyfandomprompts #re4 #resident evil 4 #reminder that Leon is 49 not 51

Okay, I've finally got some good screencaps to work with, so today we're going to take a look at the train from the opening of Z-A.

Here's our train. At first glance, it's a typical EMU (electric multiple unit) operating with an overhead catenary wire, with some Pokemon touches (the Poke Ball design in the window and the Helioptile logo on the front). The big cab windows increase visibility for the engineer/motorperson, a common feature on modern rolling stock (and indeed one that we see on most commuter rail in and around Paris, as we'll get to in a bit). There are a few interesting details I'd like to take a look at here, so let's get down to that!

The train we see in-game has three sections connected by accordion gangways. This could mean one of two things - these are three separate cars/units, or this train is one big unit divided into three sections. Something I noticed in the several minutes too long I spent looking around at the train instead of actually playing the game was that the number on the first unit and the last unit was the same, 0918. Out of universe, this obviously means the asset was just reused to make things easier on the developers, but in-universe, this could indicate that this train is meant to be one cohesive set that remains together at all times. This isn't entirely uncommon in light and heavy rail settings - a famous NYC Subway example is the BMT's D-Type Triplex. We refer to these as articulated units. You've probably seen this used with buses before, as well. When they're permanently coupled, they're referred to as a trainset.

This is probably obvious, but I'm going to say it anyway - THIS IS NOT THE TMV. The TMV, based on the TGV (France's high-speed intercity rail system), is boarded at Lumiose Station, which you can't enter in this game but which is located here in X and Y:

In Z-A, the station we get off at is the Gare de Lumiose (which also means "Lumiose Station," shhhh), which is much smaller and is located near the gate to Route 4, right where the office building is indicated on the above map. This station is stated to be a newer build, opening one year after the events of X and Y, and is clearly designed for more local transit.

We only see this one platform, and perhaps this is the only platform that exists, since there's only one set of tracks coming up to it:

So from this, we can surmise that this station doesn't see so much traffic that they'd need multiple tracks and platforms (aka a Spanish solution layout). The trains serving the station run as a connection to a nearby airport (which we can presume is the Pokemon universe's equivalent of Charles de Gaulle Airport).

Despite its looks, the Gare de Lumiose is only four years old, which raises a question: was this intentional distressing to make it look older, or did a Pokemon do this? We may never know.

Anyway, now that we've effectively determined what this train's purpose is, we can actually narrow down what it's based on! Since this train goes between the airport and Lumiose City, its most likely real-life basis is RER Line B, which goes between Charles de Gaulle Airport and Paris. If we look at their current rolling stock, the MI 79 and MI 84, there's some definite similarities, which tells me someone did their homework here:

MI 79:

MI 84:

These are both actually quite close to what we see in-game, right down to the stripes over the doors (except the Z-A ones have Poke Ball designs too, of course):

The cab ends are slanted with big windows for visibility, and the trains are articulated, just like the one we take in-game. Two of the RER lines are operated by the RATP, the same group that operates the Paris Metro - lines A and B. This is important because of one tiny little blink-and-you'll-miss-it detail on the train we ride to Lumiose.

You may have noticed this little Bunnelby on a sign by the doors when you were mucking around. I certainly did, but it was because I recognized him:

The RATP uses a rabbit mascot to promote safety on their trains. His name is Serge, and his job in this particular context is to make sure people, especially children, don't pinch their fingers in the automatic doors on the train. Here's Serge in real life:

That is genuinely a remarkable little bit of detail that I wasn't expecting to see in this game. I went into it fully intending to name a Bunnelby "Serge," which I did, but I didn't expect to actually see Serge in-game.

Either someone at Game Freak really loves trains (quite likely given the existence of a certain battle facility in Unova, as well as this little detail regarding Depot Agents and Rail Staff) or they just really, really wanted to get this as accurate to Paris as possible. I'm actually fairly impressed by how well this was translated into the Pokemon universe here.