French train sets new world speed record

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French high-speed train sets new world speed record

A high-speed French train with a souped-up engine and wheels broke the world speed record on Tuesday for conventional rail trains, reaching 574.8 kilometres per hour (357.2 miles per hour).

The black and chrome train with three double-decker cars, named the V150, bettered the previous record of 515.3 kilometres per hour (320.2 miles per hour), set in 1990 by the French fast train.

However, it fell short of the ultimate record set by Japan's non-conventional magnetically levitated train, which sped to 581 kilometres per hour (361 miles per hour) in 2003.

The endeavour, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) east of the capital on a new track linking Paris with Strasbourg, showcased technology France is trying to sell to overseas markets like China.

The specially designed train was outfitted to reach at least 540 kilometres per hour (335.5 miles per hour), about the speed of a short-distance freight propeller plane.

Three double-decker cars between two engines

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, and dubbed V150. 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 one official involved in the project.

Adjustments also were made to the new track, which opens 10 June, notably the banking on turns. The 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.