Le Capitole (train)

''Le Capitole'' (alternatively written ''Capitole'') was an express train between Paris and Toulouse in France. Introduced in 1960, it was operated by the ''Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français'' ("French National Railway Corporation") ( SNCF). It was also the SNCF’s first foray into high-speed commercial service above .

The train was named after the Capitole de Toulouse, a mainly 18th century building in Toulouse that houses the Hôtel de Ville, the Théâtre du Capitole (opera house), and the Donjon du Capitole (16th century).

Route

The route of ''Le Capitole'' was from Paris via the Paris–Bordeaux railway as far as Orléans to Montauban, and the Bordeaux–Sète railway to Toulouse. The train had the following stops:

* Paris-Austerlitz – Limoges-Bénédictins – Brive-la-Gaillarde – – Montauban-Ville-Bourbon – Toulouse-Matabiau

History

''Le Capitole'' began its existence as an evening first-class-only ''Rapide'' (express train) between Paris-Gare d'Austerlitz and Toulouse-Matabiau, departing in the late afternoon in both directions. In 1967, it became the first European train to be scheduled to run at .

In autumn 1968, a second train carrying the same name was added, operating in the morning in both directions on the route.

In 1970, ''Le Capitole'' was integrated into the Trans Europ Express (TEE) system. The morning TEE departed from both Paris and Toulouse at 7:45 a.m. and operated daily except Sundays. The other departed in the late afternoon and ran seven days a week.''Thomas Cook Continental Timetable'' (March 29–April 25, 1974 edition), pp. 69–70, 132–133. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing. Both trains were TEEs and both were normally called simply ''Le Capitole'', although the morning train was sometimes referred to informally as "''Le Capitole'' (du matin)" (the "morning ''Capitole''"). Each train included a 48-seat restaurant car operated by the Wagon-Lits Company.

In 1982, the southbound morning train and northbound evening train were downgraded to a two-class ''Rapide'', while the northbound morning train and southbound evening train remained a first-class-only Trans Europ Express. All four trains were still called ''Le Capitole''. Also, the remaining TEE service now operated only six days a week: daily except Saturdays northbound and daily except Sundays southbound.''Thomas Cook Continental Timetable'', various issues, 1982–84. Thomas Cook Publishing.

In 1984, the remaining TEE trains on the route were downgraded to two-class ''Rapide''. The two morning trains (74/75) became ''Le Capitole du Matin'', and the two evening trains (76/77) became ''Le Capitole du Soir'' (the "evening ''Capitole''").

''Le Capitole'' was discontinued in 1991, one year after the introduction of through TGV service between Paris and Toulouse via Bordeaux, a portion of which followed a higher-speed line. The TGV route was longer, at 827 km compared with ''Le Capitole'' 713 km route (via Limoges), but had a travel time that was one hour shorter: 5 hours, 10–13 minutes (depending on direction), compared with 6 hours, 2–20 minutes, on the more direct route.''Thomas Cook European Timetable'' (April 1991 edition), pp. 75, 119, 124.

See also

* History of rail transport in France
* List of named passenger trains of Europe

References

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

1969 SNCF video

{{DEFAULTSORT:Capitole
Named passenger trains of France
Trans Europ Express
Railway services introduced in 1960