Le Lyonnais (train)
Le Lyonnais, or the Lyonnais, was an express train that linked Paris and Lyon in France. Introduced in 1968, it was operated by the "Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français" (SNCF). The train is named after the geographical area known as the Lyonnais, a historical (former) French province, whose name came from the city of Lyon. Initially, "Le Lyonnais" was a "Rapide". From 1969 to 1976, it was a first-class-only Trans Europ Express (TEE). It was then downgraded back to a "Rapide" until 1981, when it was replaced by a TGV. Route. "Le Lyonnais"s  route was the first of the Paris–Marseille railway. The train had the following stops: Formation (consist). Initially, "Le Lyonnais" was usually hauled by one of SNCF's four-axle 1.5 kV DC, Class BB 9200 electric locomotives. In the 1970s, this class was replaced by the newer six-axle Class CC 6500. When "Le Lyonnais" became a TEE in 1969, its formation of rolling stock was a rake of SNCF Mistral 56-type , being a Ds, six A8, one A5ru and a "Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits" (CIWL) pullman car. In 1971, the train's rolling stock was upgraded  to Mistral 69-type DEV Inoxes, with the formation being an A4Dtux, four A8u, two A8tu, one A3rtu and a Vru. Throughout "Le Lyonnais"s existence, its dining car was staffed by the CIWL.