SNCF operates France’s TGV high-speed trains.
SNCF, France’s national railway company, runs the country’s principal high-speed passenger services. TGV originally stood for “Train à Grande Vitesse,” meaning “high-speed train,” and the first TGV services began between Paris and Lyon in 1981.
SNCF operates trains over France’s dedicated LGV high-speed lines as well as conventional tracks used to reach city centres and destinations beyond the high-speed network. This combination allows TGV services to connect places that are not directly served by a dedicated LGV.
SNCF is the operator, while TGV is the high-speed train and service brand. They are therefore not interchangeable terms. France’s railway infrastructure manager, SNCF Réseau, is a separate SNCF group company responsible for managing much of the network.