We linger there for breakfast during morning departures or for dinner during late returns.
At each start of the journey, a “barista” reminds travelers of his existence “
in the center of the train, in car 4 or 14
”.
A meeting point for first and second class, the TGV bar car has seen its layout evolve over the past forty years, over the ages and with each renovation of the trains.
With the reduction in transport time, catering on board trains is losing importance.
From the 1950s to the 1980s, certain prestigious national trains (the Mistral, the Capitol ...) and the luxury trains of the Trans-Europe-Express included a dining car.
The meal is cooked on board and served on a set table.
The service was then provided by the Compagnie internationale des wagons-lits, the same company that created the Orient-Express in 1883.
From 1981 to the present day, the TGV bar car in 10 photos
From 1981 to the present day, the TGV bar car in 10 pictures
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With the arrival of the TGV in 1981, the restaurant gave way to a bar where the offer was limited to salads, croque-monsieur and the famous “SNCF sandwiches”.
The counters and high tables, often without a seat, invite you to eat on the go.
The latest versions of the bar car nevertheless emphasize conviviality with a neat design and more spacious and bright spaces.
Proof of this is the return of facing tables in the TGV Océane, in circulation since 2017. With a giant screen and spread over two levels, the TGV M bar, expected in 2024, promises to become a real place of life for travelers.
We are impatiently awaiting this.
Read also More organic, less plastic: here is the new TGV bar menu