574.8 km/h V150 Eclipses the 1990 World Record

This article gives a first-hand experience of the fastest passenger-carrying train ride to date. It describes the 574.8 km/h speed achieved by the TRV Est Europeen line’s V150 on April 3, 2007 which shattered the previous speed record of 515.3 km/h set by the TGV Set 325 in 1990. Engineers were so confident of the train’s record-breaking performance that they not allowed 105 passengers to come along for the ride, but they also allowed live television coverage of the event. The article also includes a sidebar describing how the track was tweaked in order to achieve the most efficient run possible for the train. Efforts included adjusting the alignment along transitions on the track, lowering the ballast to reduce the potential of flying stones, and adding extra capacitors to maintain the voltage and compensate for the reactive energy produced by the train set.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03735346
• Authors:
  • Hughes, Murray
• Publication Date: 2007-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 267-268
• Serial:
  • Railway Gazette International
  • Volume: 163
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: DVV Media Group
  • ISSN: 0373-5346
  • Serial URL: http://www.railwaygazette.com/about-us.html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: High speed rail; Public relations; Speed
• Identifier Terms: TGV (Express train)
• Geographic Terms: France
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01050315
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: May 16 2007 12:09PM