Was the train travelling away from the German border?
French train speeds into the record books - at 357mph
3rd April 2007
A high-speed French train has broken the world speed record for conventional railway trains, clocking up an impressive 357.2mph.
Sparks flew and a trail of dust was kicked up as the train sped through the countryside at speeds equivalent to that of a short-distance, propellor-powered freight plane.
The equivalent speed in Britain would mean London to Newcastle in just one hour.
Shooting through the countryside: The fastest thing on rails
The souped-up black and chrome train named the V150, was pulling three double-decker cars during the record attempt on track 125 miles east of Paris, on new track linking the capital with Strasbourg.
It bettered the previous record of 320.2 mph, set in 1990 by the French fast train.
However, it fell short of the ultimate record set by Japan's magnetically levitated train, which sped to 361mph in 2003.
The record-breaking attempt showcased technology that France is trying to sell to overseas markets like China.
The V150 roared like a jet plane under bridges packed with spectators who clapped and cheered its progress.
The record-breaking V150
Train driver Eric Pieczac said: "We saw the countryside go by a little faster than we did during the tests.
"I'm proud to have fulfilled the mission. Everything went very well."
Technicians on the train had the words 'French excellence' emblazoned on the backs of their T-shirts.
The specially designed train was outfitted to reach at least 335.5 mph.
Philippe Mellier, president of Alstom Transports, the builder, said before the test that the train would try to outdo the absolute world record held by the Japanese for their magnetically-levitated Maglev train.
The French "train a grande vitesse," or TGV, was made up of three double-decker cars between two engines.
It was equipped with larger wheels than the usual TGV to cover more ground with each rotation and a stronger, 25,000-horsepower engine, said Alain Cuccaroni, in charge of the technical aspects of testing.
Adjustments were also made to the new track, which opens June 10, notably the banking on turns.
Rails were also treated for perfect contact and electrical tension in the overhead cable was beefed up, from 25,000 volts to 31,000.
It was the first time that double-decker cars were used at such a high speed, according to officials of Alstom, which makes TGVs and which crawled back a year ago from the edge of bankruptcy.
The double-decker cars were transformed into a laboratory for the event so that technicians from the state-run rail company SNCF and Alstom could gather data during the run.
Test data will be used to help improve the security and comfort of passengers in the future.
The new record gilds France's image in the expanding market for high-speed technology as countries like China turn to bullet trains.
France competes with neighboring Germany and with Japan for contracts. Transport Minister Dominique Perben received a California delegation hours before Tuesday's record attempt.
California is studying prospects for a high-speed line running from Sacramento in the north to San Diego, in the south, via San Francisco and Los Angeles.
China, the biggest potential market, was to start building a high-speed line this year between Beijing and Shanghai to cut travel time from nine hours to five.
READERS' COMMENTS
As an ex soldier and no coward will never get onto such a train. It is quite simply too dangerous. Think about it. Those crazy French!
- Ray Baker, Newcastle. UK
---------------------------
Whilst it is a very impressive achievement, I wonder about the terrible forces unleashed if the train were to derail. Air lines spend huge amounts of money on maintenance. Fast trains and their tracks would also need to an equivalent high level of maintenance to minimise the risk of an accident.
- Ben, London
dailymail.co.uk
French train speeds into the record books - at 357mph
3rd April 2007
A high-speed French train has broken the world speed record for conventional railway trains, clocking up an impressive 357.2mph.
Sparks flew and a trail of dust was kicked up as the train sped through the countryside at speeds equivalent to that of a short-distance, propellor-powered freight plane.
The equivalent speed in Britain would mean London to Newcastle in just one hour.
Shooting through the countryside: The fastest thing on rails
The souped-up black and chrome train named the V150, was pulling three double-decker cars during the record attempt on track 125 miles east of Paris, on new track linking the capital with Strasbourg.
It bettered the previous record of 320.2 mph, set in 1990 by the French fast train.
However, it fell short of the ultimate record set by Japan's magnetically levitated train, which sped to 361mph in 2003.
The record-breaking attempt showcased technology that France is trying to sell to overseas markets like China.
The V150 roared like a jet plane under bridges packed with spectators who clapped and cheered its progress.
The record-breaking V150
Train driver Eric Pieczac said: "We saw the countryside go by a little faster than we did during the tests.
"I'm proud to have fulfilled the mission. Everything went very well."
Technicians on the train had the words 'French excellence' emblazoned on the backs of their T-shirts.
The specially designed train was outfitted to reach at least 335.5 mph.
Philippe Mellier, president of Alstom Transports, the builder, said before the test that the train would try to outdo the absolute world record held by the Japanese for their magnetically-levitated Maglev train.
The French "train a grande vitesse," or TGV, was made up of three double-decker cars between two engines.
It was equipped with larger wheels than the usual TGV to cover more ground with each rotation and a stronger, 25,000-horsepower engine, said Alain Cuccaroni, in charge of the technical aspects of testing.
Adjustments were also made to the new track, which opens June 10, notably the banking on turns.
Rails were also treated for perfect contact and electrical tension in the overhead cable was beefed up, from 25,000 volts to 31,000.
It was the first time that double-decker cars were used at such a high speed, according to officials of Alstom, which makes TGVs and which crawled back a year ago from the edge of bankruptcy.
The double-decker cars were transformed into a laboratory for the event so that technicians from the state-run rail company SNCF and Alstom could gather data during the run.
Test data will be used to help improve the security and comfort of passengers in the future.
The new record gilds France's image in the expanding market for high-speed technology as countries like China turn to bullet trains.
France competes with neighboring Germany and with Japan for contracts. Transport Minister Dominique Perben received a California delegation hours before Tuesday's record attempt.
California is studying prospects for a high-speed line running from Sacramento in the north to San Diego, in the south, via San Francisco and Los Angeles.
China, the biggest potential market, was to start building a high-speed line this year between Beijing and Shanghai to cut travel time from nine hours to five.
READERS' COMMENTS
As an ex soldier and no coward will never get onto such a train. It is quite simply too dangerous. Think about it. Those crazy French!
- Ray Baker, Newcastle. UK
---------------------------
Whilst it is a very impressive achievement, I wonder about the terrible forces unleashed if the train were to derail. Air lines spend huge amounts of money on maintenance. Fast trains and their tracks would also need to an equivalent high level of maintenance to minimise the risk of an accident.
- Ben, London
dailymail.co.uk