The trains were named after the Ligne à Grande Vitesse Atlantique (lit.

They were built for a maximum speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) with 8,800 kW (11,801 hp) total power under 25 kV.

Most of the remaining fleet have been refurbished and mainly see service on slower trains between Paris and Bordeaux that use only a portion of the LGV Atlantique and LGV Sud Europe Atlantique.

Fast through services on the route are now operated by the higher capacity TGV "Océane".

Modified unit 325 set the world speed record in 1990 on the new LGV before its opening.