Introduced in 1968, it was operated by the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français (SNCF), and was initially a Rapide.

From 1971 to 1984, the Étendard was a first-class-only Trans Europ Express (TEE), and between 1973 and 1975, the southbound service was an international train linking Paris with Spain.

[2] During other seasons, the portion between Bordeaux and Irun or Hendaye usually operated only one day a week: southbound on Saturdays, northbound on Sundays.

[4] When the Étendard became a TEE in 1971, its formation of rolling stock was a rake of SNCF Grand Confort coaches [fr],[5] being an A4Dtux, three A8tu, six A8u, one A3rtu and one Vru.

[5] On 3 June 1973, to enable the train to run at speeds of up to 200 km/h (120 mph), the formation was shortened to ten coaches, namely one A4Dtux, two A8tu, five A8u, one A3rtu, and one Vru.