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 . Eight locomotives, having a maximum power of , were equipped for services up to 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. These were numbered 22379/380/399-405, and were used until 1995. For use on British railways these locomotives were allocated the UK
TOPS Class 22. as well as on
TER services between Lyon, Chambéry and Modane. ==Names==