To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the TGV, France's national rail company, the SNCF, is offering a special promotion. The TGV, or Train à Grande Vitesse, is a high-speed train that has become a symbol of modern French rail travel. As part of the celebration, the SNCF is selling 450,000 tickets with a 45% discount from Tuesday, October 6, to Thursday, October 8. These discounted tickets are valid for travel between October 16 and November 30 on the Paris-Lyon route, as well as for journeys to various destinations in France and Europe during the same period, in both first and second class. The promotion includes a range of routes, such as TGV Inoui services within metropolitan France and to Europe, TGV Lyria services to Geneva, and TGV Inoui services to Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, and Brussels. Additionally, there are joint services with DB SNCF Voyageurs to cities in Germany, including Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Karlsruhe. Alongside the ticket sale, the SNCF is organizing contests on selected TGV Inoui and Ouigo trains from October 12 to November 15. Prizes include 20,000 Ouigo gift cards, two trips for two people in first class on TGV Inoui, and 10 smartwatches. Over the past 45 years, the TGV has transported more than three billion passengers, according to the SNCF. When the first TGV service between Paris and Lyon launched in 1981, it marked a significant change in French transportation and tourism. The journey from Paris to Lyon, which previously took several hours by conventional train, was reduced to just under three hours, making the two cities much closer in terms of travel time. In 1981, a one-way ticket in second class from Paris to Lyon cost 160 francs, which is approximately 69 euros today when adjusted for inflation. This price is now within the current range for similar journeys, which typically cost between 50 and 110 euros, depending on the travel date and class of service. The TGV fare increased in subsequent years, reaching 200 francs in 1983 and 236 francs in 1987. At the time, these prices were considered high compared to conventional train tickets, even though the distance traveled was shorter. This initial pricing strategy reflected the novelty and technological advancement of the TGV, which was seen as a major innovation in rail travel.