The TGV began operating on France’s LGV Sud-Est high-speed line in 1981.
The service initially connected Paris with Lyon, using purpose-built high-speed infrastructure and specially designed electric trainsets. “TGV” is an abbreviation of the French phrase “Train à Grande Vitesse,” meaning high-speed train. The first regular services demonstrated that very high speeds could be combined with frequent intercity passenger travel.
The LGV Sud-Est opened in stages, and the original TGV service helped establish France as a major leader in high-speed rail. Later LGV routes extended the network toward the Atlantic coast, northern France, the Mediterranean, and international destinations.
TGV is often used as though it names one specific train model, but it is also a broader French high-speed rail service and technology family. Modern TGV-derived trains include several generations with different interiors, capacities, and technical arrangements. The original 1981 service should not be confused with France’s 1981 world speed record, which was achieved during testing rather than ordinary passenger operation.