TGV stands for "Train à Grande Vitesse," which literally translates from French to English as "High-Speed Train." Operated primarily by SNCF (the French national railway), the TGV is one of the most successful and iconic high-speed rail networks in the world, with its inaugural service between Paris and Lyon launching in 1981. These trains operate at commercial speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph) on dedicated tracks known as Lignes à Grande Vitesse (LGVs). In 2026, the TGV network connects Paris to almost every major city in France and extends into neighboring countries like Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. The technology used in the TGV, including its articulated trainsets (where cars share a common bogie), has been exported globally and served as the foundation for other high-speed systems like the Eurostar and Korea's KTX.