Train Smashes Speed Record
http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,30200-train_030407_1200,00.html
A French train has smashed the world rail speed record on a new stretch of line between Paris and Strasbourg. See how fast the bullet train manages to go.
A French high-speed train has smashed the world speed record on rails after reaching 357.2mph.
The specially-designed bullet train easily topped the old speed record of 320mph, also set by a French train in 1990.
The double-decker TGV, short for “train a grande vitesse”, hurtled along a new stretch of track from Paris towards Strasbourg as crowds watched from bridges over the line.
It had been equipped with larger wheels and a beefed-up 25,000-horsepower engine.
The souped-up train recorded 357.2mph on the speedometer – about the speed of a short-distance freight propeller plane.
Britain’s fastest Virgin trains reach a maximum speed of 125mph.
“We saw the countryside go by a little faster than we did during the tests,” train driver Eric Pieczac said. “I’m proud to have fulfilled the mission.”
“Everything went very well,” he added.
Alain Cuccaroni, in charge of the technical aspects of testing, said the feat was about “more than just breaking a record”.
He said technicians, wearing T-shirts emblazoned with “French excellence”, would be able to collect data that would help them improve the safety and comfort of the TGV.
France is keen to consolidate its reputation in the expanding market for high-speed technology as countries like China turn to bullet trains.
The TGV came within just 4mph of the absolute train speed record of 361mph, held by Japan’s Maglev.
Powerful magnetic fields propel the hovering Maglev train along a guideway without it ever touching the track.
(SKY NEWS)
http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,30200-train_030407_1200,00.html
By: scotavia - 7th April 2007 at 10:44
rail uk
And as you say Bex operated by qualified staff and only the trained and well tested are allowed on the rails.In contrast the UK road system is open to all after one test plus the unlicenced and we all know about the daily injuries and deaths on the roads. By contrast the rail and air travel are much safer but sadly the media highlight accidents which occur using rail and air.
By: bexWH773 - 7th April 2007 at 09:52
i know… you would of thought they would of tried to push it that bit harder on the opening run!
i know if i was in charge it had to be worth it..
its crazy tho… 357.2mph on a long route would soon as them miles behind you.. it puts us in the UK to shame with our Virgin 125mph train!! – however.. i thought the GNER got upto around that speed? if not a little faster?? ie King Cross to Leeds…
RicKT
I worked on the railways for 15yrs, our infrastructure is so old if u sneeze it falls apart. The TGV routes have been specially designed & built along with their in cab signalling, we dont have it (apart from on the Channel Tunnel Hi Speed route). I have been in a cab at 125mph trying & i mean trying to learn a route not an easy task as u cant see much thats y the french have those systems in place.
Finally, the East Coast Main Line (GNER to non railway peeps) is cleared in places further north for 140MPH running, though the Class 91 locomotive was tested upto 162 MPH.
We invented railways but thanks to politics (which Im not going to discuss here not fair on the thread) lack of investment means we have the worst and one of the most dangerous rail networks in the world. However it is operated at GROUND level but the most professional people Ive worked with (apart from the odd idiot) Bex
By: Shadow1 - 4th April 2007 at 20:50
It’s incredible to think the TGV has yet to have a serious accident where dozens of lives are lost such as the ICE crash a few years back or even a derailment such the one in Cumbria. Is it sheer luck or absolute virtual perfect engineering?
By: Arm Waver - 4th April 2007 at 11:21
The key thing here is it is a special newly built line. Our railways aren’t built for such speeds.
I dare say we could have a high speed rail link but can you imagine the huge row by the environmentalists, NiMBY’s et al? let alone the cost. Just look at the hoo-har over the channelk tunnel link.
This country can’t produce a major project on time let alone budget!
As Ren states – can you imagine the carnage from a crash at those speeds? I don’t even want to think about it…
By: Ren Frew - 4th April 2007 at 02:18
It’s crazy tho… 357.2mph on a long route would soon as them miles behind you.. it puts us in the UK to shame with our Virgin 125mph train!! – however.. i thought the GNER got upto around that speed? if not a little faster?? ie King Cross to Leeds…
RicKT
There’s no point in Virgin or GNER buying in faster trains until Network Rail instill some public confidence in the safety of their track and infrastructure, as highlighted by several fatal accidents of late, including the Virgin Pendolino derailmaent in Cumbria recently.
God knows the carnage had that train been capable of doing 300mph ???
By: Rickt - 3rd April 2007 at 23:29
i know… you would of thought they would of tried to push it that bit harder on the opening run!
i know if i was in charge it had to be worth it..
its crazy tho… 357.2mph on a long route would soon as them miles behind you.. it puts us in the UK to shame with our Virgin 125mph train!! – however.. i thought the GNER got upto around that speed? if not a little faster?? ie King Cross to Leeds…
RicKT
By: Shadow1 - 3rd April 2007 at 21:11
I wonder if they might eventually go for the absolute world speed record with this train. It’s only another 4mph more to go, why not give it a shot.
Sign In
April 3, 2007 at 5:19 pm