thumb|upright=1.3|[[SNCF's turbotrain in Houlgate on the Deauville-Dives line]]
The Turbotrain was one of several French high-speed, gas-turbine trains. The earliest Turbotrain entered service in 1967, for use on France's SNCF intercity lines. There were four versions in total, with the last exiting service in 2005, and it is the Turbotrain that made advances possible for the TGV.
TGS (Turbine à gaz spéciale) Prototype – XR 8575 trainset
In 1967, the SNCF converted a two-car X 4300 Class diesel multiple unit train originally built by ANF Industrie (Ateliers Construction du Nord de la France), starting in 1963 (either train number X4375 or X4365), into the prototype experimental Turbotrain TGS (Turbine à gaz spéciale). The new gas-turbine engine was installed into the trailer car of this two-car set; the original diesel power car was fitted with a new cab but retained its original diesel motor and transmission. These trains reached . and proliferated with further orders from France and licensed production in the United States by Rohr.
Four units of Turbotrains were introduced in Iran in 1974 with maximum speed of between Tehran and Mashhad. Later in 2008 these were converted to diesel multiple units.
TGV 001 experimental high-speed train
This experimental Turbotrain TGV 001 set the world speed record of for gas-turbine–powered rail vehicles on 8 December 1972.
This TGV 001 was a five-car trainset which included four gas-turbine engines with a total output of and all axles driven.