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Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français

French railway
Also known as: French National Railway, National Society of French Railways, SNCF
Written and fact-checked byThe Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
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Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français
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An Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français Transport Express Régional (TER) train, France.
rosier
English:
French National Railways
Date:
1938 - present
Areas Of Involvement:
Train à Grande Vitesse

Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF), state-owned railroad system of France, formed in 1938. The first railroad in France, from Saint-Étienne to Andrézieux, opened in 1827. A line from Saint-Étienne to Lyon was completed in 1832. In 1840 France had about 300 miles (500 km) of railroad, and by 1870, 9,300 miles (15,500 km).

A highly centralized system developed with Paris as the hub, but several cross-country routes, such as Lyon to Nantes, Bordeaux to Lyon, and Calais to Basel, were also built. The system was effectively nationalized in 1938, when the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF) took over the operations of the privately owned Est, Midi, Nord, Paris-Lyons-Mediterranean, and Paris-Orleans railways, as well as the railways in western France. The state was given 51 percent control and has subsidized the system heavily.

In 1981 the SNCF began its “Train à grande vitesse” (TGV), or “high-speed train,” service on the Paris to Lyon line. The new trains, with their sleek design and low profile, were able to make the 265-mile (426-kilometre) trip in just two hours, operating at cruising speeds of up to 168 miles per hour (270 km per hour); the trains have a top speed of more than 235 mile/h (378 km/h).

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.