TGV 001

A4 motorway in Bischheim

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TGV 001 (Train à Grande Vitesse 001) was a high-speed railway train built in France. It was the first

to break speed records between 250–300 kilometres per hour (160–190 mph). The experimental train was part of a vast research program on high rail speeds. This program covered all technical aspects, principally traction, the behaviour of the vehicles, braking, aerodynamics and signalling. Originally, two trains were to be built, but only one was produced. The second was to be a tilting train equipped with an active tilting system, but was abandoned owing to technical difficulties.

Description

This turbotrain was built in a radically different fashion than its predecessors (the ETG and the RTG); it was composed of two power cars and three carriages, all with driving axles. This concept as well as the shape of the TGV 001 was kept when designing the future TGV.

Each

helicopters. As well as having direct control of the turbines, the power cars were equipped with traction, braking and signalling controls.

The TGV 001 was an

of each carriage, thus reducing rolling in curves.

Service

Despite setting the speed record for a gas turbine-powered locomotive at 318 kilometres per hour (198 mph), this train never saw commercial use.

History

TGV 001 was finished on 24 March 1972 and began to undergo testing on 4 April 1972. It went on to carry out 5,227 test runs, running five hundred thousand kilometres (310,000 mi) and breaking the 300-kilometre-per-hour (190 mph) barrier 175 times.

TGV 001 still holds the world speed record for a

, having travelled at 318 kilometres per hour (198 mph) on 8 December 1972.

The

traction.

Tests officially concluded on 19 June 1978.

Preservation

• T 001: Bischheim (Bas-Rhin) 48°36′53″N 7°43′38″E / 48.614729°N 7.727189°E / 48.614729; 7.727189
• T 002: Belfort (Territoire de Belfort) 47°38′35″N 6°53′24″E / 47.643008°N 6.889863°E / 47.643008; 6.889863

See also

• British Rail APT-E
• Gas turbine locomotive#Gas turbine-electric
• SNCF
• Turbotrain

External links

• 45 ans de TGV