| Year | Events |
| 1550 |
The discovery of the first frame of a trolley on rails in a mine in Alsace SWITZERLAND. |
| 1671 |
The discovery of Denis Papin that steam force pressure will allow the development of the railway. |
| 1738 |
Collection of wooden rails by British mining iron plates to reduce their wear. |
| 1789 |
The invention of cast iron rails projecting English WILLIAM JESSOP on which it rolled flanged wheels or pudding. |
| 1804 |
Construction and testing of the first locomotive in the world by Richard Trevithick hauling five cars loaded with 10 tons of iron. |
| 1808 |
Construction of a second locomotive more sophisticated than the first. |
| 1823 |
The founding of the first locomotive manufacturing plant in New Castle by GEORGE ROBERT STEPHENSON. |
| 1825 |
Inauguration in England of the first railway line in the world for travelers with traction steam engine. |
| 1828 |
Operation of the line of railway between France and Saint Etienne Andrézieux. |
| 1831 |
Testing of the first locomotives built in France by engineer MARC SEGUIN. |
| 1835 |
Inauguration of two railway lines one in Belgium and one in Germany. |
| 1837 |
Inauguration of a railway line between Paris and Saint-Germain (19 km of track). |
| 1838 |
Invention of a mail car that gathers or drop off bags of mail running between Birmingham and Liverpool. |
| 1839 |
Opening of the line from Paris to Versailles and Dutch Railway and Italian Railway. |
| 1840 |
Use of the telegraph in England to report the movements of trains. |
| 1842 |
Invention of the so-called "OF STEPHENSON" by the English HOWE which allows to vary the admission of steam into the cylinders of the engine to facilitate changes in operation. |
| 1842 |
Circulation of the first electric locomotive in the world (with battery) by DAVIDSON. |
| 1842 |
The French government decided to participate in the financing of the railway network. |
| 1843 |
Inauguration of two railway lines in France, Paris to Rouen and Paris to Orléans. On this last line stagecoaches crates with their travelers is transported on flat cars: First attempt of combined rail-road. |
| 1847 |
The commissioning of the first locomotive Crampton designed for speed with great drive axle (over 2.2m) and will meet on many networks. |
| 1851 |
In the USA, transportation of perishable goods in refrigerated ice-wagon. |
| 1851 |
Commissioning of the first Ferry in Scotland. |
| 1853 |
Introduction of railway in India. |
| 1855 |
Application of VIGNIER device, allowing the mechanical interlock to prevent operator error in signal boxes and signaling. |
| 1857 |
The French government guarantees loans. |
| 1858 |
The development of the injector GILLARD to replace the water feed pump on the locomotives. |
| 1859 |
The commissioning of the first sleeping cars in the USA. |
| 1863 |
The commissioning of the first dining cars in the USA. |
| 1864 |
Construction of the first railway line in Indonesia. |
| 1865 |
First experience of privatization of the Italian railways. |
| 1868 |
Operation of the first steam locomotive heating heavy oil by the French Sainte Claire Deville. |
| 1869 |
Invention of the air brake by GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE. |
| 1869 |
Realization of the rail link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific. |
| 1879 |
The commissioning of the electric tramway in Berlin built by Siemens and Halske. |
| 1882 |
Held in Berne of the First International Conference which led to the creation of UIC. |
| 1882 |
First application of electric lighting in a station in France (Saint-Lazare). |
| 1883 |
June 5, the opening of the first international luxury train (Orient Express). |
| 1883 |
First application of automatic block on the network of Midi in France. |
| 1883 |
The companies fund, the French state reimburses. |
| 1893 |
Testing a battery locomotive on the North network. |
| 1899 |
An electric lighting car by a dynamo connected to an axle tested on the Paris-Le Havre line, Paris-Bordeaux-Thouras. |
| 1900 |
Commissioning of the locomotive Atlantic 220, built in Belfort, by the Alsatian company, with a speed up to 140 km / h. |
| 1907 |
The commissioning of the first Pacific locomotives in Europe. |
| 1912 |
Construction of the first diesel locomotive with a power of 1,200 horses in Germany by Sulzer. |
| 1918 |
Commissioning PO network in France, it is a system of central control train movements (dispatching). |
| 1922 |
On December 1, the creation of the International Union of Railways (UIC) in Paris. |
| 1929 |
First facility in the world in Canada of a telephone system available to travelers allowing them to communicate from a moving train. |
| 1931 |
Testing of Renault and Michelin railcars on wheels that reached 107 km / h in France. |
| 1933 |
Inauguration of the locomotive Vitry’s testbed. |
| 1933 |
Commissioning of the first centralized command post in St. Lazare. |
| 1935 |
A French manufacturer has tried propelled mazout for the market of Indo-China. In addition, it is in Tunisia that when testing speed and endurance made between Tunis and Sfax, the world record speed was recorded. |
| 1937 |
Exploitation of seven major French networks is entrusted to the French Railways. Commissioning of two 4000 horsepower diesel locomotives on the PLM network. |
| 1947 |
The commissioning of the first CC locomotive 6001 with an output of 3600 horsepower. |
| 1949 |
Early attempts to use long bars welded 800 m with rubber soles and elastic ties rails. |
| 1950 |
First use of electric traction with an industrial single phase 20,000 V. |
| 1952 |
Inauguration of electric traction of 15,000 V between Paris-Lyon.Commissioning of electric traction in single phase 25000 v50 periods |
| 1954 |
between Valenciennes and Charleville. |
| 1955 |
World speed record for electric locomotives CC 7107 and BB 9004 with 331 km / h. |
| 1961 |
Testing of cargo trains in the United States starting load 25000T with 6 locomotives located on front, in the middle, and in tail with a Radio Telephone |
| 1969 |
Creating fast trains Palatino (Rome-Paris) and Puerta Del Sol (Paris-Madrid). |
| 1969 |
On February 9, the commissioning of the mistral comfort. |
| 1970 |
Start of construction of the new high speed line Rome-Florence. Creation of the first train service automotive gas turbine on the line Paris-Coen-Cherbourg. |
| 1971 |
Launch of automatic driving tests scheduled on the Paris suburbs. |
| 1972 |
On September 29, the French train TGV001 gas turbine reached a speed of 307 km / h and a world record for the autonomous traction. |
| 1974 |
Designed by French engineer JEAN Bertin, train hovercraft beats the world record speed of a land vehicle on an air cushion. It reached an average speed of 417.6 km / h and even makes a point to 430 km / h. "The wingless flight" as it is called its creator is powered by a jet engine airliner. It is designed to make quick routes like Paris-Orleans, Orly or Roissy-La Défense-Cergy. The arrival of the TGV will sign the death warrant of the Sky Train and prototypes will be abandoned on the basis of Orleans. |
| 1981 |
Commissioning the TGV |
| 1994 |
Opening of the Channel tunnel that will allow Eurostar historic crossing. |
| 2004 |
Launch of the new generation of regional express trains (TER) by Bombardier Transportation Company also features the Diesel technology for use on non-electrified lines, as the electrical transmission. |
