Thanks to the tireless curiosity and unrelenting genius of Ettore Bugatti, the Royale engines which had already been created for the Bugatti Type 41 were ingeniously modified for a novel and pioneering project: Ettore harnessed his brilliant engine design to revolutionize France’s rail system with an entirely new breed of express railcar.

Even though the French national rail network boasted a well-developed infrastructure, it was mainly served by sluggish steam-powered engines. This was further compounded by the emerging competition from cars and buses, meaning that French rail travel was in desperate need of modernization. Ettore’s trailblazing Royale-inspired train achieved this to the maximum degree, launching the French railways into a new era. By carrying out precise engineering modifications and technical iterations, he enabled the eight-cylinder engine of the Royale to be reconfigured and adapted for use in the new four-axle rail multiple units that he developed for the French railway. In an astounding feat, he managed to design and develop the blueprint for a new generation of high-speed luxury train travel in just nine months.

In the initial homologation trials, the elegantly streamlined train’s combination of power, lightweight construction, and aerodynamic efficiency allowed it to reach a maximum speed of 172 km/h, setting a record for rail travel at that time. Its surfaces and shapes were optimized for aerodynamics, representing a new pinnacle of engineering excellence for trains that was already at the core of Ettore’s pioneering automotive work.

In 1934, a subsequent version became the fastest train in the world, setting a new record of 196 km/h. Performance of this caliber enabled train companies to dramatically reduce journey times, enabling comfortable, long-distance, express services to become a reality. Suddenly, Parisians were able to escape the city for a weekend getaway to their country or coastal residences much faster than before.

The railcars that Bugatti designed and manufactured were truly revolutionary in terms of their aerodynamics and performance. They also marked a significant milestone in terms of aesthetics and usability. Ettore was a trailblazer who devised a design that resulted in the first-ever train to position the conductor in a specific centrally located cabin (which is why it is called “autorail” in French). This allowed the conductor to perform operational and logistical duties with enhanced ease, efficiency, and safety, providing them with a full 360° vision to avoid the need to change positions when the train was altering its direction at the terminus.

The interior style and functionality of the Bugatti trains were just as pioneering, allowing passengers to create a personalized environment from a fully flexible configuration arrangement. The configuration enabled the seats to rotate, giving passengers the option to face the direction of travel or be seated facing the opposite direction. Such flexibility allowed passengers to create a cozy and intimate living room-like environment that enhanced comfort and convenience. As with every Bugatti creation, Ettore was determined that the aesthetic ambience of the interior of the train – and the design of the exterior – was of the highest quality, truly embodying the “Art, Forme, Technique” philosophy.

In total, Bugatti was responsible for developing and manufacturing 88 trains. These remarkable achievements not only enabled Bugatti to survive the tumultuous 1930s but also to emerge stronger, with the factory expanding to take on the extra operations required for producing and maintaining the trains.

From the 88 trains built by Bugatti, today, only one example remains – “Le Présidentiel”, which was one of the first railcars delivered by Bugatti to be operated by ETAT. Today, Le Présidentiel’s resting place is at Cité du Train in Mulhouse, managed by Sylvain Vernerey. Over 150 trains and railway machines dating back to 1827 can be seen in the Mulhouse museum, making it the largest such exhibition in Europe that showcases in detail the many eras and breakthroughs in design, innovation, technology and travel in France.

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