What does the French railway company acronym SNCF stand for?

SNCF stands for Société nationale des chemins de fer français, meaning French National Railway Company.

The company was created in 1938 as a state-owned enterprise by combining France’s major private railway companies. Its full French name is commonly shortened to SNCF, and the organisation became the central operator of France’s national railway services.

SNCF operates passenger and freight rail services through different subsidiaries and brands. SNCF Voyageurs manages many passenger services, while TGV is the best-known brand associated with French high-speed trains. The company also operates conventional intercity and regional services.

SNCF is sometimes mistakenly expanded using “fédéraux” or “ferroviaires,” but the final words are chemins de fer français, literally “French railways.” The acronym refers to the company, not to a particular train or railway line.