{{Redirect|Le Mistral||Mistral (disambiguation){{!}}Mistral}} {{Infobox rail service | box_width = | name = ''Le Mistral'' | logo = | logo_width = | image = 141-R-1199 Villeneuve-Saint-Georges-k.jpg | image_width = | caption = Until the 1960s, the ''Mistral'' was hauled by a {{nowrap|Class 141R}} steam locomotive. | type = ''Rapide''<br>(1950–1965)<br>Trans Europ Express (TEE)<br>(1965–1981) | status = Replaced by a TGV | locale = France | predecessor = | first = {{start date|1950|05|14|df=y}} | last = {{end date|1982|05|22|df=y}} | successor = | operator = | formeroperator = SNCF | ridership = | start = Paris | stops = | end = Nice | distance = | journeytime = | frequency = Daily | trainnumber = | line_used = | class = | access = | seating = | catering = | observation = | entertainment = | baggage = | otherfacilities = | stock = | gauge = {{railgauge|sg}} | el = | speed = | owners = | routenumber = | map = 250px | map_state = show }}

'''''Le Mistral''''', or the '''''Mistral''''', was an express train between Paris and Nice in France. Introduced in 1950, it was operated by SNCF, and was regarded as the company's flagship train.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Story of French Rail - 1969|url=http://www.sncf.com/en/meet-sncf/sncf-history?date=1969#anchor-1969|publisher=SNCF|accessdate=22 February 2013}}</ref>

The train was named after the Mistral, a strong, cold and usually dry regional wind blowing from north or northwestern France to the coast of the Mediterranean around the Camargue region.

==History== The ''Mistral'' began its existence in 1950 as a mostly steam locomotive-hauled ''Rapide'' (express train) between Paris-Gare de Lyon and Marseille-Saint-Charles. Two years later, in 1952, its route was extended to Nice-Ville.<ref name="Mertens-Malaspina-de">{{cite book |first1= Maurice |last1= Mertens |first2=Jean-Pierre |last2= Malaspina |title= TEE: Die Geschichte des Trans Europ Express |trans-title=TEE: The History of the Trans Europ Express |pages=197–201 |location= Düsseldorf |publisher= Alba Publikation |language= German |date= 2009 |isbn= 978-3-87094-199-4}}</ref> By 1965, when it was integrated into the Trans Europ Express (TEE) system,<ref name="cooks1965may30">"Stop Press [news]". ''Cooks Continental Timetable'' (May 30–June 30, 1965 edition), p. 6 London: Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd.</ref> it had become completely electric locomotive-hauled.<ref name="Mertens-Malaspina-de"/>

In the 1970s, ''Le Mistral'' included some unique amenities, among them a "bookstall, bar and hairdressing salon".<ref name="nock1978">{{cite book|last=Nock|first=O.S.|author-link=O. S. Nock|title=World Atlas of Railways|chapter=Trans-Europe Expresses|year=1978|page=86|location=New York|publisher=Mayflower Books (original publisher: Artists House, London, UK)|isbn=0-8317-9500-X}}</ref> The train also had two restaurant cars;<ref name=hiddeneurope>{{cite web |url=http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk/train-services-of-yesteryear |title=Letter from Europe: Train services of yesteryear |last1=Gardner |first1=Nicky |last2=Kries |first2=Susanne |date=30 June 2011 |website=Hidden Europe|accessdate=30 August 2013}}</ref> the Wagons-Lits Company provided the on-board catering.<ref name="cooks1975jun">''Thomas Cook Continental Timetable'' (June 1975 edition), p. 69. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing.</ref> In 1975, a writer for Fodor's called ''Le Mistral'' "perhaps the most luxurious train in Europe".<ref name=fodors75>{{cite book | author=Tennant, David D. | editor=Eugene Fodor | editor-link=Eugene Fodor (writer) | editor2=Robert C. Fisher | title=Fodor's Europe 1975 | year=1975 | chapter=Planning Your Trip: Rail Travel in Europe | page=97 | series=Fodor's Guides | publisher=David McKay Company | location=New York|isbn=<!--none-->}}</ref>

The train's final day as a TEE was 26 September 1981,<ref name="cooks1981sep27">''Thomas Cook Continental Timetable'' (September 27–October 31, 1981 edition), pp. 6, 144, 148.</ref> as the next day saw the introduction of the first TGV service in France, in that same corridor,<ref name="cooks1981sep27-p65">"TGV Paris – Sud Est". ''Thomas Cook International Timetable'' (September 27–October 31, 1981 edition), p. 65.</ref> and the downgrading of ''Le Mistral'' to a two-class "Rapide" train, albeit continuing to use the same first-class coaches for the train's first-class section.<ref name="cooks1981sep27"/>

''Le Mistral'' was discontinued entirely in 1982, after being replaced by TGV service.<ref name="Mertens-Malaspina-de"/>

==Speed== Still steam-hauled in 1964, the ''Mistral'' was one of the fastest trains in France,<ref name="trains65">{{cite journal|last=Steffee|first=Donald M.|title=Japan Takes the Blue Ribbon at 86.7 mph!|date=June 1965|journal=Trains|publisher=Kalmbach Publishing|location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin|pages=20–31}}</ref> with an ''average'' speed of {{convert|82.5|mph|km/h|disp=flip}} on the {{convert|195.2|mi|km|adj=on|disp=flip}} Paris – Dijon section, as well as an average speed of 129&nbsp;km/h on its Valence – Avignon section.<ref name="trains65"/>{{rp|24}} It also had the distinction of being the train with the "world's fastest schedule for [a route of] over 500 miles",<ref name="trains65"/>{{rp|28}} averaging {{convert|74.7|mph|km/h|disp=flip}} on its {{convert|535.4|mi|km|adj=on|disp=flip}} Paris – Marseille section.<ref name="trains65"/> Slower speeds on the more "rugged country" between Marseille and Nice brought the average speed down to {{convert|65.2|mph|km/h|disp=flip}} over the full 1,086&nbsp;km route from Paris to Nice,<ref name="trains65"/> which was nevertheless a relatively high average speed for 1964. Soon after that, electrification of the route was completed, and ''Le Mistral'' began being hauled by modern electric locomotives; starting in 1969, it was Class CC 6500 locomotives. This change along with new passenger coaches increased the train's average speed and shortened the travel time, the latter going from 10 hours, 21 minutes, in 1964<ref name="trains65"/>{{rp|28}} to just over 9 hours in June 1969.<ref name="cooks1969jun">"Table 12: Le Mistral". ''Cooks Continental Timetable'' (June 1969 edition), p. 65. London: Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd.</ref> <!-- ==Route== ==History== ==Formation (consist)==-->

==See also== <!--{{portal|Trains|France}}--> * History of rail transport in France * List of named passenger trains of Europe

==References==

===Notes=== {{reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} * {{Malaspina-Mertens-TEE-fr}} * {{Malaspina-Mertens-TEE-it}} * {{Mertens-Malaspina-TEE-de}} * {{cite book|last=Meunier|first=Jacob|title=On the Fast Track: French Railway Modernization and the Origins of the TGV, 1944-1983|year=2001|place=London; Westport (Connecticut)|publisher=Praeger|isbn=0275973778}} * {{cite book|last=Victor|first=André|title=Le Souffle du Mistral|trans-title=The Blast of the Mistral|year=2012|publisher=La Vie du Rail|location=Paris|isbn=9782918758471|language=fr}} {{refend}}

{{Trans Europ Express trains}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mistral}} Category:Named passenger trains of France Category:Trans Europ Express Category:Railway services introduced in 1950 Category:Railway services discontinued in 1982 Category:1950 establishments in France Category:1982 disestablishments in France