From 13 to 20 May 2007 Paris welcomes the record-breaking
train!

Press releases and news 03 May 2007

From 13 to 20 May 2007 Paris welcomes the record-breaking
train!

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This technical and group exploit was implemented by
Réseau Ferré de France, Alstom and SNCF within the
framework of the French Excellence in Very High Speed Rail
Transport Program.

It was a human exploit as well, conducted by the 3 partners
whose teams worked jointly to mobilize the most competent
international experts in very high speed rail transport.

In order to pay a tribute to those involved and present the
project to the general public, the program's partners will
exhibit the train from 13 to 20 May in an exhibition-event
entitled "357.2 mph on the Seine".

357.2 MPH ON THE SEINE: A FLOATING EXHIBITION OF THE
RECORD-BREAKING TRAIN

On Sunday, 13 May, from 3 pm to 5:30 pm, the record-breaking
train (V150 trainset), made up of the head power car and the test
car, will pass through the French capital on the river Seine from
the Pont de Bir-Hakeim (Bir-Hakeim Bridge) to the
Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF National Library)
aboard a floating pontoon.

From 14 to 20 May, an exhibition devoted to very high
speed rail transport will be open to the public at the foot of
the Eiffel Tower (Port de Suffren) every day from 9 am to 7
pm.

The week's exhibition program will include: noteworthy photos of
the event, a speed simulator, everyday applications of the
exploit and information on very high speed rail transport both
worldwide and on the newly-opened LGV Est Européenne.


This event marks the very first opportunity for the
general public to board the world's fastest train, and
includes a visit of the driving cab from which Eric Pieczak
operated the vehicle on 3 April. The train will be exhibited on
the pontoon anchored at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.


 

The train visit is free of charge. Tickets will be
distributed on site and are valid on the day of distribution
only.

Background: the record-breaking train

The V150 trainset which broke the world rail speed
record at 357.2 mph was comprised of a series of rolling
stock:  2 POS power cars (those used for the
TGV Est Européen), 3 standard Duplex cars and
2 AGV bogies (the latest generation of high speed
trains developed by Alstom).


Aboard the train, a test car analyzed data recorded by
600 sensors which measured the behavior of both the
infrastructure and equipment at never-before-achieved
speeds.


The world record set on April 3, 2007 is the crowning
achievement of a series of trials launched on January 15,
2007 by the French Excellence in Very High Speed Rail
Transport Program. It brought together over 300 engineers
and technicians. 40 trial runs were performed at speeds
of close to 280 mph, for a total of over 200 hours of
trials and a distance of nearly 2000 miles covered. 


The program has enabled the three partners, RFF, Alstom
and SNCF, to gather a large body of information
concerning high-speed rail transport which will enable
them to design and develop the high speed trains of
tomorrow.


For the first time ever, starting June 10, 2007, 100
TGV trains will run on a daily basis at speeds of
200 mph on the TGV Est Européen train
line.