Dictionary of Meaning

<<Back
Please select a letter:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0-9

SNCF

*** Shopping-Tip: SNCF
Image:SNCF logo.gif right|SNCF logo '''SNCF''' ('''Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français''') is a major France French public enterprise. Its functions include operation of rail services for passengers and freight in France, and maintenance of rail infrastructure owned by RFF (Réseau Ferré de France). It employs about 180,000 people. The rail network currently consists of about 32,000 kilometre km of track, of which 1,500 km is TGV high-speed track and 14,500 km is railway electrification system electrified. About 14,000 trains are operated daily. The current chairman of SNCF is Louis Gallois. Its headquarters are situated in Paris, in the Rue du Commandant Mouchotte.

Scope of business
Image:France-Sncf-Train.jpg multiple unit.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|200px|right|An SNCF [[multiple unit..html" title="Meaning of 200px|right|An SNCF [[multiple unit">thumb|200px|right|An SNCF [[multiple unit.">200px|right|An SNCF [[multiple unit">thumb|200px|right|An SNCF [[multiple unit. SNCF operates almost all of France's railway system, including the TGV (''Train à Grande Vitesse'', literally "high-speed train") and some segments of the RER. In the past, SNCF owned not only the trains, but also the tracks, but this has changed due to new European Union regulations. Since 1997 the tracks and other elements of French rail infrastructure have belonged to a separate government establishment, the ''RFF Réseau Ferré de France''; this change was intended to open the market to independent train operating companies, although few have yet appeared. There have been claims that this is mainly to very restrictive regulations that are allgedly motivated by protectionism. For example, the licensing procedure for the InterCity Express#Equipment_and_specifications multi-system ICE3M took four years, while the same train was allowed onto tracks in the Netherlands and Belgium within a year of its introduction.

History
The SNCF was formed in 1938 following the nationalisation of France's five main railways. These were the: *Chemin de Fer de l'Est *Chemin de Fer de l'État (formed in 1909 following the merging of the Chemin de Fer de l'État and the Chemins de Fer de l'Ouest) *Chemin de Fer du Nord *Chemin de Fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée (PLM) *Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans et du Midi (PO-Midi, formed in 1934 following the merging of the Chemin de Fer de Paris à Orléans and the Chemin de Fer du Midi) The French state took 51% control of SNCF and has since put large amounts of public subsidies into the system. In the 1970s, SNCF began the TGV high speed train programme with the intention of creating the world's fastest railway network. It came to fruition in 1981, when the first TGV service from Paris to Lyon was inaugurated. TGV lines and the TGV technology have since spread to several other European countries plus South Korea.

Codeshare with airlines
Image:Tgv sud est.jpg TGV.html" title="Meaning of right right|thumb|250px|A 2nd-generation [[TGV train (Réseau class) at Marseille St-Charles station..html" title="Meaning of thumb|250px|A 2nd-generation [[TGV">right|thumb|250px|A 2nd-generation [[TGV train (Réseau class) at Marseille St-Charles station.">thumb|250px|A 2nd-generation [[TGV">right|thumb|250px|A 2nd-generation [[TGV train (Réseau class) at Marseille St-Charles station. SNCF Code sharing codeshares with American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, US Airways, and Emirates and in exchange, allows passengers on those flights to book rail service between Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Roissy (near Paris) and Angers Rail Station Angers, TGV Rail Station Avignon, Gare de Bordeaux Bordeaux, Le Mans Rail Station Le Mans, Lille Rail Station Lille, Lyons Rail Station Lyons, Marseille Rail Station Marseille, Montpellier Rail Station Montpellier, Nantes Rail Station Nantes, Nimes Rail Station Nimes, Poiters Rail Station Poiters, Rennes Rail Station Rennes, Tours Rail Station Tours, and Valence Rail Station Valence with their airline. The IATA designator used by airlines in connection with these journeys is 2C.

Environment
Jacques Chirac, the French president, pledged in his 2006 New Year Address that by 2026 no SNCF or RATP train would be powered by fossil fuels.{{ref|Times}} This pledge confirms France's commitment to nuclear power for its energy needs, and already nuclear power stations generate most of the electricity used to power SNCF's trains.

See also
* History of rail transport in France * List of French companies * List of SNCF classes * TER (train network) * Transportation in France * Yellow train

References
# {{note|Times}} ''The Times'', Friday, January 6 2006, p54. ''France will run trains free from fossil fuel, says Chirac''.

External links

- SNCF web site
- Map
- SNCF UK web site
- History of SNCF (in French)
- channel tunnel link Category:SNCF 00 Category:French railway companies af:SNCF ca:SNCF cs:Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français de:Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français es:SNCF fr:Société nationale des chemins de fer français it:SNCF nl:Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français ja:フランス国鉄 pl:Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français pt:SNCF ru:SNCF sv:SNCF Category:French railway companies see SNCF {|class="infobox" | {|style="width:100%" !style="text-align:center"|'''SNCF''' |- !style="text-align:center;background:{{{ColourName}}};color:{{{TextColour}}}"|{{{Name}}} |- |{{{Logo}}} |} |- |{{Template:RER}} |- |{{Template:Transilien}} |- |{{Template:TER }} |- |{{Template:TGV}} |}Category:Rail transport templates {{PAGENAME}}

*** Shopping-Tip: SNCF