The train engines were designed for a maximum speed of 160 km/h and were the first such train engines in France. In the late sixties, a small group of train engines was converted for 200 km/h operation, hauling prestige TEE trains like the Capitole - these train engines were called the BB 9200 Capitole . These types were later superseded by the CC 6500 train engines. Some of these train engines have been in service for more than 10 millions of kilometers since they have been set to service.
The regular services of the remaining BB 9200 train engines are inter-regional trains between Paris Montparnasse and Le Mans, between Paris Austerlitz and Tours and between Paris Gare de Lyon, Dijon and Lyon. Some few are in service for freight trains.
Phasing out of the series of train engines was expected for 2007.
The BB 9200 Capitole train was a train engine type variant of the SNCF Class BB 9200 train engine type specially constructed for high speed trains. Due to its special design they were also called the BB rouge. From 1967 - 1970 the SNCF started the high speed service with the Capitole between Paris and Toulouse. This train connection included some sections with a speed of more than 200km/h.
Vincent Cuny: Le Capitole c' est pas Japon. In: Correspondences Ferroviares, N. 34, Septembre 2007, pp. 50- 59.