"Blue train" and LX10 sleeping cars

In December 1883, the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits launched a luxury train linking Calais to the Mediterranean Sea under the name “Calais-Nice-Rome Express”, which was split in 1887 on the one hand into “Rome-Express” via Modane, and on the other hand in "Calais-Mediterranean Express" whose name was kept until 1949. The use of the first metallic sleeping cars of blue colour in 1922, then that of the restaurant car and the van in 1926 on the “Calais-Mediterranean Express” train makes it nicknamed the “Blue Train” by travellers.

From 1929, new luxury 1st class sleeping cars with one bed per compartment, 90 units built (LX type sleeping cars n ° 3466 to n ° 3555) were used on the “Calais-Méditerranée Express” and confirmed the exceptional character of this luxury night train from the interwar period. Service gradually resumed after World War II. In June 1949, the section of the “Calais-Mediterranean Express” train with Paris origin was officially designated the “Blue Train”.

To meet the growth in post-war traffic, the capacity of the LX sleeping cars was increased (from 1 bed to 2 beds per compartment). At the same time, to increase catering capacity, an additional bar-lounge car resulting from the transformation of a Pullman type “Côte d'Azur” car without a kitchen, was added to the dining car from 1951 on the “Blue Train” .

In the 1960s, sleeping cars of a more modern design (type P, U, MU and T2 sleeping cars) were gradually introduced into the composition of the “Blue Train” and definitively replaced the LX type sleeping cars in the winter. 1969. The restaurant car and lounge bar disappeared in 1976. For the 1980/1981 winter service, sleeper cars were added to the “Blue Train” throughout the route.

The “Blue Train” then becomes one night train among others.

Grand Comfort "Capitole" cars

Intended for prestige trains in the South-West traveling at 200 km / h, and particularly on the Paris-Toulouse line with its winding route across the Massif Central, the “Grand Confort” coaches have an ovoid section to allow the installation of 'a system of inclination in the curves, system which will never be installed during their career. Their red, metallic gray and red stripe livery matches that of contemporary CC 6500 locomotives. Built in 103 units (34 A8tu, 40 A8u, 6 A3rtu bars, 10 Vru restaurants and 13 A4Dtux vans), these 1st class coaches run in a homogeneous train. As soon as they left the factory in July 1970, they were used on the “Etendard” (not yet TEE) Paris-Bordeaux, then for the 1970/71 winter service on the two “Capitole” Paris-Toulouse which had become TEE in this date, replacing the red YUIC cars. From 1982, one of the "Capitole" trains included "Grand Confort" coaches transformed into 2nd class, thus becoming a 1st / 2nd class train and before definitively leaving the TEE pool on September 30, 1984.

From 1991 to 1995, modified "Grand Comfort" cars were included in the composition of the "Euraffaires" trains between Paris and Toulouse, then on the limited route from Paris to Brive until the 1998/99 winter service.