HJ4170 WSL Jouef SNCF TEE Le Capitole A8u Coach - ep. IV

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 Comfort” 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 grey 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 Comfort" 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.