====== Corail postaux ======


{{:fr:uicpostaux_doc.jpg  }}


**Corail** is the name given to a class of passenger rail cars of the  SNCF  that first entered commercial service in 1975. When introduced,  Corail  carriages featured air-conditioning, and superior levels of  comfort,  suspension and sound-proofing than previous InterCity   carriages and gave arguably the best ride of any European coach. When   introduced, Corail carriages were painted in two tones of grey with a   sharp flash of orange on the doors. At the time it was a huge investment   by SNCF with more than 3000 carriages ordered, representing a massive   leap in quality of service for French  rail passengers. Most of the  vehicles were still in service in 2008.  Certain vehicles have been  modernised and renamed: Téoz for the day  trains, Lunéa for night  trains.


The name Corail, which is also used as a designation of service for   trains made up of these carriages, can be considered as a combination of   'comfort' and 'rail'.


The carriages were mainly built by a Franco-Belgian enterprise in  Raismes. Alstom  also took part in the programme by assisting with the  completion of the  second class and buffet cars, and rebuilt between  2004 and 2008 some  2nd class cars with baggage compartments into new  B5uxh cab-cars  (UK=driving trailers).


Corail carriages are used throughout France on non-[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TGV|TGV]] locomotive-hauled services. Their use has gradually been reduced with   the development and introduction of the TGV. Refurbished and upgraded   Téoz trains are deployed on trunk routes where no TGV services operate.   As the TGV network has expanded, Corail trains have been cascaded down   onto regional services.


**__Corail today:__ **


Despite having provided many years of reliable and comfortable   intercity service, with the expansion of the TGV network the image of   the Corail trains began to suffer. The SNCF responded by beginning to   modernise the fleet in 1996. A new livery and refurbished interior was   introduced as part of the “Corail Plus” programme. The bold orange doors   become green for second class and red for first. These refurbishments   of mainline Corail trains were soon considered to be insufficient, and   in 2003 three heavily refurbished and re-fitted cars were revealed in  Paris  as the new Téoz, featuring multicoloured exterior colour schemes  and  heavily modernised interiors. Buffet coaches do not operate  anymore,  however a mobile catering service using trolleys is offered on  some Téoz  services. On night services, a vending machine is located in  the  so-called “voiture service”.


Surplus carriages were sold to regional councils to be used for TER   regional services. Certain regions use Corail coaches geared for  200  km/h operation (the rest are limited to 160 km/h) to operate fast   regional services known as TER 200.


In 2005, the Corail family celebrated thirty years of service and  they  still provide a smoother ride than railway carriages in many other   countries. Most cars ordered in the last twenty years have been diesel,   electric and dual-mode railcars,  and TGV trainsets, but with the most  recent refurbishments, Corail  coaches are expected to remain in service  for at least another decade.


Lunéa night trains operate on a number of domestic routes, offering a  first and second class couchette service. Passengers travel in  compartments of four or six bunks, and are provided with a pillow,  lightweight bedsheet and blanket. Most Lunéa services also convey  reclining seats cars.