FRANCE | High Speed Rail

[hkskyline]

French high-speed train to break world record

PARIS, Dec 18, 2006 (AFP) - France's high-speed TGV train -- already the fastest in the world -- is to try to break its own record by hitting speeds above 540 kilometres (325 miles) per hour, its constructors said Monday.

One of the prides of French engineering, the superfast train a grande vitesse (TGV) set the current world rail record of 515.3 kilometres per hour, in test conditions, in 1990.

The new speed trial will be carried out in early April on the brand new TGV line connecting Paris to the eastern city of Strasbourg, which is set to open in June 2007.

According to the French engineering giant Alstom, which builds the TGV, the train is hoped to hit speeds of 550-570 kilometres per hour.

Currently, average travelling speeds for the TGV are around 300 kilometres per hour, but trains on the latest-generation Paris-Strasbourg line are to run slightly faster at 320 kilometres per hour.

[CharlieP]

Great story, but hardly relevant for Subways and Urban Transport... A thread has been started in Infrastructure and Mobility.

[WotaN]

I smell that they want to compete with japanese Maglev and hit 600 km/h, just to show that new technology is obsolete since the old one is capable of reaching same speeds

[Bitxofo]

It is just an experiment, not commercial speed...

[hkskyline]

Technically it's urban to urban transport, or intercity rail.

[CharlieP]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

Technically it's urban to urban transport, or intercity rail.

Exactly my point. I've asked in the past if we can have a Railways subforum but without any luck.

[TRZ]

This is factually inaccurate, the fastest train in the world is of maglev technology posessed by Japan (the Yamanashi track, current record is 582km/h). TGV would still be fastest experimental test run for steel on steel though, even Shinkansen max out around just a little above 400, but they are looking at commercial operating speeds in excess of 350 with the latest models (Fastech, not yet in service although testing is mostly complete).

[Tubeman]

Originally Posted by CharlieP

Exactly my point. I've asked in the past if we can have a Railways subforum but without any luck.

I'd support this. Trains are trains are trains

[TRZ]

Originally Posted by WotaN

I smell that they want to compete with japanese Maglev and hit 600 km/h, just to show that new technology is obsolete since the old one is capable of reaching same speeds

The speed isn't maglev's best payoff though, unless in a vacuum, which isn't safe yet, but it would be faster than air travel if it were. Maglev outperforms because of its frictionless property, meaning dramatically less wear, meaning cheap cheap cheap to maintain.

[DonQui]

Depends on how you defend rail-based transport. Some are loathe to call anything rail that is not wheel-rail. Some language heighten this distinction, in Spanish it is called "FERROcaril," mean "Iron rail."

I personally am inclined to not call maglev rail. Something else, but not rail. And don't ask me why, I know it is an artificial distinction.

[TRZ]

Originally Posted by DonQui

Depends on how you defend rail-based transport. Some are loathe to call anything rail that is not wheel-rail. Some language heighten this distinction, in Spanish it is called "FERROcaril," mean "Iron rail."

I personally am inclined to not call maglev rail. Something else, but not rail. And don't ask me why, I know it is an artificial distinction.

Japanese is the same story, the characters for TETSUDOU mean Iron road as well, but the debate isn't on whether or not it is rail, it is the fact, an undeniable fact, that it is a train, the same word used in the original article (they said train, not rail), the companies managing these services are run like railway companies (or in Japan's case the same company, excluding Limino) and as far as I know, all language recognize maglev as a train, and that is the most important point, since trains are the best form of mass transportation of people over land. People should care less whether the train runs on rails or hovers on its guideways. That rubber-tire shit? It's considered a railway (it is certainly considered a subway when it is underground), right? But it isn't steel-on-steel either. It's a moot point, because a train is a train regardless of the technology applied, as long as car traffic doesn't share space with it (the biggest problem with tram systems)

[CharlieP]

Originally Posted by Tubeman

I'd support this. Trains are trains are trains

Well I've asked again nicely:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=11017839

[Minato ku]

Originally Posted by TRZ

That rubber-tire shit? It's considered a railway (it is certainly considered a subway when it is underground), right? But it isn't steel-on-steel either. It's a moot point, because a train is a train regardless of the technology applied, as long as car traffic doesn't share space with it (the biggest problem with tram systems)

In reallity in France rubber tired trains run on rail and it is a steel-on-steel

[C-Beam]

The German ICE trains once used hybrid rubber/steel wheels in order to achieve higher comfort and less noise. The inner hub of the wheel was made of steel, on it came a ring of rubber and then an outer ring of steel again. Unfortunately one of these hybrid wheels caused the Eschede accident and therefore ICEs now use conventional all steel wheels again.

[elfabyanos]

It failed because the maintenance regime was not being adhered to (i.e. ultrasonic fracture testing wasn't being done properly), and while the design of the wheels may be partly to blame, that type operates on many trains all around the world with no problems.

[eomer]

Some picture of LGV (HSR) Mediterrannée between Valence and Marseille.


Valence's junction between LGV Rhone-Alpes and LGV Meditrranée.


Valence-TGV: platforms and passing tracks (350 km/h).


La Garde Adhémar: LGV above A7 motorway and the double Bow-String.


Roquemaure: LGV Med along A9 motorway on the right side of the Rhône.


Les Angles: junction Paris-Marseille and Paris-Montpellier.


Les Angles: the fabulous double bridge over the Rhône river.


Avignon South: LGV over motorway toll.


Avignon south: the old N7 and the LGV.


Vernegues: a viaduc between two tunnels. Photograph missed the train...


Ventabren: her majesty Ventabren's viaduct over RD10 and A8 motorway.


Ventabren: just for your pleasure, a second picture of Ventabren's viaduct (remenber "Taxi").

Lot of other pictures at http://lgv2030.free.fr choose "Gallerie".

[DonQui]

fantastic shots!

[Jean Luc]

Excellent photos! Thanks for posting them...

For a fantastic view of what the driver sees on a trip from Marseille to Paris by TGV (including the LGV Méditerranée) get yourself the following video or DVD: http://www.video125.co.uk/acatalog/M...Paris_DVD.html

[Mekky II]

The LGV Est, that will connect Paris to Strasbourg in the future, broke the former record of 515,3 km/h establied in 1990. With a new record established this morning *553 km/h*, SNCF and Alstom take advantage of such advertising for their companies but also give a rendez-vous : "See you in april !" SNCF and Alstom have the project to go to 570 km/h with their new technologies. Fans of high speed trains already trust that to go over 600 km/h is possible considering this morning record but president of Alstom temperates "we will not put in danger people working on our project, we will go as far as the technology can." Story to follow in next months.

[CharlieP]

Awesome news.