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| French set new rail speed record | French set new rail speed record |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A French high-speed train (TGV) has smashed the world record for a train on conventional rails by a big margin, reaching 574.8km/h (356mph). | |
| The previous TGV record was 515km/h (320mph), set in 1990. | The previous TGV record was 515km/h (320mph), set in 1990. |
| The record attempt by a modified TGV took place on a track between Paris and the eastern city of Strasbourg. | The record attempt by a modified TGV took place on a track between Paris and the eastern city of Strasbourg. |
| The absolute train speed record was set by a Japanese magnetic levitation train - Maglev - in 2003. It reached a top speed of 581km/h (361mph). | |
| The TGV set the new record at 1314 (1114GMT) on Tuesday. It was a modified version called V150, with larger wheels than usual and two engines driving three double-decker cars. | The TGV set the new record at 1314 (1114GMT) on Tuesday. It was a modified version called V150, with larger wheels than usual and two engines driving three double-decker cars. |
| The BBC's Emma Jane Kirby said the three train drivers were seen grinning on French TV after they realised they had broken the record. | |
| V150 TRAIN Two engines - one at each endThree double-decker carsThree motorised bogiesPower output: more than 25,000 horsepowerCost: 30m euros (£22m; $40m) | V150 TRAIN Two engines - one at each endThree double-decker carsThree motorised bogiesPower output: more than 25,000 horsepowerCost: 30m euros (£22m; $40m) |
| The train travelled almost as fast as a World War II Spitfire fighter at top speed. | The train travelled almost as fast as a World War II Spitfire fighter at top speed. |
| The electrical tension in the overhead cable was boosted from 25,000 volts to 31,000 for the record attempt. | The electrical tension in the overhead cable was boosted from 25,000 volts to 31,000 for the record attempt. |
| Spectators clapped and cheered as the train zoomed underneath bridges. | |
| "We saw the countryside go by a little faster than we did during the tests," engineer Eric Pieczac told the Associated Press. | |
| The train travelled as fast as a WWII fighter plane | |
| "Everything went very well. There are about 10,000 engineers who would want to be in my place," Mr Pieczac said. "It makes me very happy, a mixed feeling of pride and honour to be able to reach this speed." | |
| French TGV trains, in service since 1981, generally travel at about 300km/h. But from 10 June they will be allowed to reach 320km/h on the recently opened Paris-Strasbourg LGV Est line. | French TGV trains, in service since 1981, generally travel at about 300km/h. But from 10 June they will be allowed to reach 320km/h on the recently opened Paris-Strasbourg LGV Est line. |
| SNCF and the train's makers Alstom say the record attempt represents a test on the infrastructure in extreme conditions, which is impossible to carry out in the laboratory. | SNCF and the train's makers Alstom say the record attempt represents a test on the infrastructure in extreme conditions, which is impossible to carry out in the laboratory. |
| After the record was broken, President Jacques Chirac conveyed his congratulations on "this new proof of the excellence of the French rail industry." | |
| Rival trains | |
| "Economically efficient and respectful of the environment, the TGV is a major asset in efforts to ensure sustainable development in transport," Mr Chirac was quoted as saying. | |
| "What is important for us today is to prove that the TGV technology which was invented in France 30 years ago is a technology for the future," said Guillaume Pepy, director-general of SNCF. | |
| Alstom also aims to boost TGV sales abroad, where it is competing with the Japanese Shinkansen and the German Inter-City Express high-speed trains. | Alstom also aims to boost TGV sales abroad, where it is competing with the Japanese Shinkansen and the German Inter-City Express high-speed trains. |
| China, South Korea and Taiwan are the most important customers for high-speed trains. | China, South Korea and Taiwan are the most important customers for high-speed trains. |
| The technology is also being looked at in California for a new high-speed service between Los Angeles and San Francisco, according to AFP news agency. |