The BB 22200 is a class of electric locomotives in service with the French railways SNCF, built by Alsthom between 1976-1986. They are a polycurrent version (1500 V DC and 25 kV 50 Hz AC) of the BB 7200 and BB 15000 classes[1], with which it shares the exterior appearance. Thanks to this characteristic they can run in all French electrified lines.
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 long course trains such as the Train Bleu (1000 km from Ventimiglia to Paris) and the car transport train Marseille-Paris.
The BB 22200 are capable of a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour (99.4 mph). 8 engines, having a maximum power of 5,600 kilowatts (7,500 hp), were equipped for services up to 200 kilometres per hour (124 mph) and can work on TGV lines.
Between 1994 and 1995 nine BB 22200 were used for hauling freight trains through the Channel Tunnel as the Class 92 locomotives were not yet delivered. These were numbers 22379/380/399-405.[2] For use on British railways these locomotives were allocated the UK traction number Class 22.[3]
