Shopping Cart
The TGV Paris Sud-Est was the first high-speed train to enter commercial service in France, and Rame n°16 holds a special place in its history: on 26 February 1981, it reached 380 km/h during testing, even before the LGV Sud-Est had officially opened. Azar Models reproduces that very unit in Z scale, finished in the Atlantique livrée the grey and blue livery that refreshed the PSE fleet from the late 1990s onwards, replacing the original orange scheme designed by Jacques Cooper.
A complete consist in seven elements
The set includes two power cars one motorised and one dummy two end coaches in first and second class (R1 and R8), two intermediate coaches (R2 and R7), and a bar coach (R4). The composition faithfully replicates the real TGV PSE formation and allows it to run exactly as it appeared in SNCF service during Era V. On a Z scale layout, a consist of this length and such a distinctive silhouette commands real visual presence: the sharp nose of the power cars and the chromatic continuity of the Atlantique livrée make the train read as a single flowing unit from end to end.
Mechanics and finish
The power car features a coreless ironless motor with dual flywheels and two powered bogies, all maintenance-free. The wheels are metal with a burnished finish. Reversible LED lighting switches between warm white and red according to the direction of travel, adding visual coherence both in motion and at a standstill. The chassis and micro-mechanics are manufactured to the tight tolerances that Z scale demands. The bodyshell is finely detailed injection-moulded plastic finished in the Atlantique livrée.
On the layout and in the display cabinet
In Z scale, the Azar Models TGV PSE works equally well on an active layout or as a display piece. Its seven-element length allows a high-speed consist to be represented with genuine credibility, and Rame n°16 adds a specific point of historical interest for anyone familiar with TGV history. The analogue DC version is compatible with two-rail installations without the need for a digital controller, making it straightforward to integrate into any existing Z scale layout.