Le Mistral (train)

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Le Mistral
Until the 1960s, the Mistral was hauled by a Class 141R steam locomotive.
Overview
Service typeRapide
(1950–1965)
Trans Europ Express (TEE)
(1965–1981)
StatusReplaced by a TGV
LocaleFrance
First service14 May 1950 (1950-05-14)
Last service22 May 1982 (1982-05-22)
Former operator(s)SNCF
Route
TerminiParis
Nice
Service frequencyDaily
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Route map

Le Mistral, or the Mistral, was an express train between Paris and Nice in France. Introduced in 1950, it was operated by SNCF, and was regarded as the company's flagship train.[1]

The train was named after the Mistral, a strong, cold and usually dry regional wind blowing from north or northwestern France to the coast of the Mediterranean around the Camargue region.

History

The Mistral began its existence in 1950 as a mostly

Nice-Ville.[2] By 1965, when it was integrated into the Trans Europ Express (TEE) system,[3] it had become completely electric locomotive-hauled.[2]

In the 1970s, Le Mistral included some unique amenities, among them a "bookstall, bar and hairdressing salon".[4] The train also had two restaurant cars;[5] the Wagons-Lits Company provided the on-board catering.[6] In 1975, a writer for Fodor's called Le Mistral "perhaps the most luxurious train in Europe".[7]

The train's final day as a TEE was 26 September 1981,[8] as the next day saw the introduction of the first TGV service in France, in that same corridor,[9] and the downgrading of Le Mistral to a two-class "Rapide" train, albeit continuing to use the same first-class coaches for the train's first-class section.[8]

Le Mistral was discontinued entirely in 1982, after being replaced by TGV service.[2]

Speed

Still

electrification of the route was completed, and Le Mistral began being hauled by modern electric locomotives; starting in 1969, it was Class CC 6500 locomotives. This change along with new passenger coaches increased the train's average speed and shortened the travel time, the latter going from 10 hours, 21 minutes, in 1964[10]: 28  to just over 9 hours in June 1969.[11]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ "The Story of French Rail - 1969". SNCF. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-3-87094-199-4
    .
  3. ^ "Stop Press [news]". Cooks Continental Timetable (May 30–June 30, 1965 edition), p. 6 London: Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd.
  4. ISBN 0-8317-9500-X
    .
  5. ^ Gardner, Nicky; Kries, Susanne (30 June 2011). "Letter from Europe: Train services of yesteryear". Hidden Europe. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  6. Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (June 1975 edition), p. 69. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing
    .
  7. ^ Tennant, David D. (1975). "Planning Your Trip: Rail Travel in Europe". In Eugene Fodor; Robert C. Fisher (eds.). Fodor's Europe 1975. Fodor's Guides. New York: David McKay Company. p. 97.
  8. ^ a b Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (September 27–October 31, 1981 edition), pp. 6, 144, 148.
  9. ^ "TGV Paris – Sud Est". Thomas Cook International Timetable (September 27–October 31, 1981 edition), p. 65.
  10. ^
    Kalmbach Publishing
    : 20–31.
  11. Cooks Continental Timetable (June 1969 edition), p. 65. London: Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd
    .

Bibliography

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