''Le Rhodanien'', or the ''Rhodanien'', was an

express train An express train is a type of passenger train that makes few or no stops between its origin and destination stations, usually major destinations, providing faster service than local trains that stop at many or all of the stations along their ...

with its southern terminus in

Marseilles Marseille (; ; see below) is a city in southern France, the prefecture of the department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the Provence region, it is located on the coast of the Mediterranean S ...

, France. Operated by the ''Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français'' (

SNCF The Société nationale des chemins de fer français (, , SNCF ) is France's national State-owned enterprise, state-owned railway company. Founded in 1938, it operates the Rail transport in France, country's national rail traffic along with th ...

), it was named using the French language adjective derived from the Rhone river; the name alludes, amongst other things, to the river, its valley, and the dialect of the

Franco-Provençal language Franco-Provençal (also Francoprovençal, Patois or Arpitan) is a Gallo-Romance language that originated and is spoken in eastern France, western Switzerland, and northwestern Italy. Franco-Provençal has several distinct dialects and is s ...

that is spoken there. The train had two distinct eras. Between 1964 and 1971, it was an international '' Rapide'' linking Geneva, Switzerland with Marseilles. In 1971, the train's route and classification were radically altered, and ''Le Rhodanien'' became a first-class-only domestic

Trans Europ Express The Trans Europ Express, or Trans-Europe Express (TEE), was an international first-class railway service in western and central Europe that was founded in 1957 and ceased in 1995. At the height of its operations, in 1974, the TEE network compri ...

(TEE) running between Paris and Marseilles. It was discontinued in 1978.

Formation (consist)

The Geneva–Marseille ''Rhodanien'' was made up of SNCF diesel multiple unit railcars, in a two- to five-car formation, in each case with a power car at each end. These vehicles had previously been used on TEE trains. The Paris–Marseille train was formed of passenger cars, hauled by an SNCF 1.5 kV DC, Class CC 6500 electric locomotive. The passenger cars were a

rake Rake may refer to: Common meanings * Rake (tool), a horticultural implement, a long-handled tool with tines * Rake (stock character), a man habituated to immoral conduct * Rake (poker), the commission taken by the house when hosting a poker game ...

of SNCF Mistral 69-type , and were initially an A4Dtux, three A8tu, two A8u and a Vr. From 1 June 1975, the Paris–Marseille train was augmented by one or two extra coaches when required. While ''Le Rhodanien'' was operating as a TEE, its

dining car A dining car (American English) or a restaurant car (British English), also a diner, is a passenger railroad car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant. These cars provide the highest level of service of any rai ...

was staffed by the ''

Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (; ) is a Belgian-founded French company known for providing and operating luxury trains with sleeping car, sleepers and dining cars during the late 19th and the 20th centuries, most notably the ''Orient Express''. Founded by Georges Nagelmacker ...

'' (CIWL).

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodanien (train) Named passenger trains of France Named passenger trains of Switzerland Trans Europ Express Railway services introduced in 1964 Railway services discontinued in 1978

Formation (consist)

See also

References