After the first test held in 1976, the BB 22200 were introduced on the Marseille–Nice–Ventimiglia line in southern France–northern Italy. The following year they started to haul longer distance trains such as the Train Bleu (1000 km from Ventimiglia to Paris) and the car-transport train between Marseille and Paris.
The BB 22200 are capable of a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph). Eight locomotives, having a maximum power of 5,600 kilowatts (7,500 hp), were equipped for services up to 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph) and can work on LGV lines.
From 1994 nine of the class were used for hauling freight trains through the Channel Tunnel as the Class 92 locomotives were not yet delivered.[1][2] These were numbered 22379/380/399-405,[3] and were used until 1995.[citation needed] For use on British railways these locomotives were allocated the UK TOPSClass 22.[4]
^The designation "22200" is, in fact, the sum of 7200 and 15000
^There are a number of French communes and départements of this name. Source does not specify which one it was named after. For a list see Pierrefitte (disambiguation)
