Étendard (train)
The Étendard was hauled by a CC 6500 locomotive. | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Rapide (1968–1971) Trans Europ Express (TEE) (1971–1984) Rapide (1984–1990) |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Locale | France |
| First service | 29 September 1968 |
| Last service | 1990 |
| Former operator(s) | SNCF |
| Route | |
| Termini | Paris-Austerlitz Bordeaux-Saint-Jean |
| Distance travelled | 579.3 km (360.0 mi) (Paris–Bordeaux) |
| Train number(s) | TEE 5, 4 (1971–1984) |
| Line(s) used | Paris–Bordeaux |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) | First-class-only (1971–1984) First and second class (1968–1971; 1984–1990) |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | SNCF Class CC 6500 Grand Confort |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | 1.5 kV DC |
The Étendard was an express train that linked Paris and Bordeaux in France. Introduced in 1968, it was operated by the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français (SNCF), and was initially a Rapide.
The train's name, L'Étendard (literally, "The Standard") is the French word for "banner", and commonly refers to military banners, as carried on parades and into battle.
From 1971 to 1984, the Étendard was a first-class-only Trans Europ Express (TEE), and between 1973 and 1975, the southbound service was an international train linking Paris with Spain. It reverted to being a two-class Rapide in June 1984 and was discontinued entirely with the introduction of TGV service between Paris and Bordeaux, in 1990.