Le Mistral

The Mistral was a fast SNCF train which provided the connection between Paris and Nice from 1950 to 1982. It was numbered 1 in the Paris-Nice direction and 2 in the Nice-Paris direction.

The history of the Mistral begins in 1950, when this train was created to replace a Bugatti railcar providing the Marseille-Nice connection. The gradual electrification of the line allowed the Mistral to reach maximum speeds of 160 km/h from the 1960s.

The Mistral was integrated into the Trans-Europ-Express network from 1965 to 1981. In 1981 it became an ordinary fast train with the addition of second class Corail cars, until its complete abolition in 1982. Despite plans replaced by first-class TGV equipment, the Mistral has remained a legendary train.

The Mistral offered a first-class service with luxurious, air-conditioned cars and many innovative amenities, including automatic doors, a restaurant, a bar car, a boutique, an art gallery, a secretarial service, hostesses and even a hair salon. The train was pulled by different locomotives over the years.

The Mistral has also been depicted in cinema, and similar cars have been used on other international routes. After its abolition, some of the Mistral equipment was sold to other countries for use on other prestigious lines.