SNCF de fer", literally, 'path of iron', means railway). These were the: The French state originally took 51% ownership of SNCF and invested large amounts of public subsidies into the system. Today, SNCF is wholly owned by the French state. Following the 1940 Armistice and until August 1944, SNCF was requisitioned for the transport of German armed forces and armaments. The invading German troops were responsible for the destruction of nearly 350 French railway bridges and tunnels. According to differing estimates, SNCF surrendered between 125,000-213,000 wagons and 1,000-2,000 locomotives. France's railway infrastructure and rolling stocks were a target for the French
SNCF Class BB 17000 SNCF Class BB 17000 The SNCF Class BB 17000 B-B AC electric locomotives built between 1965 and 1968. It performs suburban duties on railway lines around Paris, notably VB2N carriages. They are monophase locomotives (running off 25 kV AC overhead supply) and have the nickname "danseuses" or "dancers". Since November 2007, 16 of the 105-strong class of locomotives have been scrapped. After spending a varied first part of their careers hauling different types of train, the locomotives were regrouped for use on the Parisian "trains de la banlieue" or suburban trains. They are now all owned and operated by Transilien.