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SNCF rolling stock ranging from TGV high-speed trains and Corail coaching stock to the regional services run by the regions.
3 classes
France has gone its own way with designations. Instead of a class number in the German sense, vehicles carry series prefixes such as BB, CC or Z that already contain the wheel arrangement: BB stands for two two-axle bogies, CC for two three-axle bogies.
The digits that follow are allocated sequentially and follow no technical system. If you want to identify French vehicles, you need to know the series – the number alone does not tell you the design.
On top of that comes the variety of electrification systems: the north and east run on 25 kV AC, the south on 1.5 kV DC. Dual-system vehicles are therefore the rule rather than the exception, and you can watch this happen at the system changeover points.
Electric multiple units for fast long-distance services – ICE, Railjet, Pendolino and related families (UIC type code 93).
Special trailer cars and driving trailers with a cab for push-pull operation – operationally vital and often overlooked (UIC type code 96).
Diesel shunting locomotives and small locos for stations, works, ports and private sidings (UIC type code 98).
Log sightings, collect vehicle numbers and see what others are reporting right now – free with Traintrack.
