KATO is bringing back the iconic orange “First Generation TGV” – the TGV Sud-Est – our first-ever European model, now with updated specifications!

The new model will replicate the uniquely shaped pantograph used in AC-powered sections. Just like the real train, it will also be possible to operate two trainsets coupled together. In addition to running it alongside other TGV series models, it is also highly recommended as a collector’s item.

● TGV Sud-Est was the first generation of TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) trains, introduced for service on France’s LGV Sud-Est line between Paris and Lyon—Europe’s first high-speed rail line. When the LGV Sud-Est opened in 1981, the TGV Sud-Est trains began high-speed service with a maximum speed of 260 km/h.

In 1983, following the extension of the line, their top speed was increased to 270 km/h, surpassing the operating speed of Japan’s Shinkansen at the time. This milestone attracted global attention, positioning the TGV as the fastest scheduled train service in the world at that point.

Both the trains and the line were gradually upgraded, eventually supporting operating speeds of up to 300 km/h. The TGV Sud-Est sets remained in service for decades, becoming iconic symbols of French engineering. Although the trainsets have since been retired, the original orange livery of the first-generation TGV remains highly popular and nostalgic.