TGV South-East | TrainsDepot.org

Source: commons.wikimedia.org

Source: Peter Velthoen

Source: maurizio messa

SNCF: South-East TGV train of the world speed record of 380 km/h on February 26th, 1981 - "TGV 100"

Source: openarchives.sncf.com

TGV South-East

Also known as:

TGV Sud-EstTGV PSE

Vehicle type:

Electric multiple unit - EMU

Registration country:

France

Railway companies:

SNCF - Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer français

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Era:

IV - VI

Gauge:

Standard gauge (1'435 mm)

Electric systems:

1,5 kV DC
25 kV AC / 50 Hz

Current collectors:

Pantograph - Asymmetrical

Length over buffers (mm):

200,19 m

Width (mm):

2,814 m

Height (mm | over lowered pantograph):

3,42 m

Tare weight (t):

385 t

Service weight (t):

418 t

Power output (x'xxx kW / x'xxx hp):

6'450 kW*
*AC power
3'100 kW*
*DC power

Maximum speed (km/h):

300 km/h

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Vehicle's history

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1978

The units from this series are delivered from 1978. A total of 101x units* type TGV 23000 dual-current and 8x units + 1x unit converted from a TGV 23000 dual-current unit (9x units in total) type TGV 33000 tricurrent .

NB: These units are registered 01 to 102 but unit 99 never existed.

Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/TGV_Sud-Est

1981

February 26

"TGV 100"

Unit 16, delivered by Alsthom on October 22, 1980, is used for a test drive on February 26th, 1981. Known as operation "TGV 100", the main purpose is to reach the maximum speed of 100 m/s (or 360 km/h) and break the previous speed record of 331 km/h from 1955.

For this test, unit 16 lost three cars out of the eight for a standard train (307 tons instead of 385 tons), got larger drive wheels (1050 mm instead of 920 mm), hardened shock absorbers and steel friction strips on the pantographe which is equally equipped with stability fins. A laboratory is installed on board to control the parameters directly. It should be noted that while the power cars and three wagons were indeed those of train set 16, the R1 1st class trailer fitted out with the on-board laboratory came from train set 33, which has the particularity of having sockets for observing the pantograph, while the R8 trailer came from the pre-series train set 01 as it is equipped with an onboard generator.

The track did not undergo any specific modification for this test, while the catenary has undergone certain adaptations: over voltages from 1500 to 2000 daN, contact wire of 150 mm2 instead of 120 mm2, the voltage has been increased to 29 kV.

On Thursday February 26, 1981, in the middle of the afternoon, unit 16 stops at the level of the Serein viaduct, at km 192, on track n° 2. Once the check-list is done, the train starts at 3:33 p.m. The speed increases quickly: almost 200 km/h at kilometre 190, 300 km/h at kilometre 184. The speed of 331 km/h of the previous 1955 record is reached then exceeded around km 175. 360 km/h, the objective of this campaign, at kilometre 162. The maximum speed of 380 km/h is reached at the level of kilometres 157 and 156 thanks to a fairly long downward slope of 11.5 per mile. On the strength of this result, a second run is organised, this time with around a hundred observers on board, including many journalists, to experience this feat from inside the unit. New start at 4:37 p.m. Unfortunately, following the presence of an intruder in the danger zone, the train is forced to brake prematurely and reaches a maximum speed of only 364 km/h.

NB: unlike the 1955 record where the limits of the track and the equipment had been reached, during this test there was still some margin but it was preferred not to take any risks with commercial operation scheduled to begin less than seven months later.

Source: openarchives.sncf.com

View all 10 photos in the photo gallery

1988

Set 70 is discarded after an accident in Voiron in 1988.

1993

September 23

Set 38 is converted into a Postal TGV.

Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/TGV_postal

1994

February

Set 87 is the first unit to be modified in February 1994 for a maximum speed of 300 km/h. Among other changes, the installation of a fairing at the height of the motor bogies (these fairings will not be retained for futur upgrades of the other sets).

1997

Set 101 is converted into TGV P01. It will be converted back as TGV South-East unit 101 in 2000.

Sources: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/TGV_P01

2020

February

End clap for TGV 01

After 40 years of service, during which it has traveled 14 million kilometres (the equivalent of 335 trips around the world), train set 01 "Patrick" is making a farewell tour, thus allowing SNCF agents and the public to pay it a final tribute.

For the occasion, the mythical train has been repainted in the colours of its historic liveries: original orange for the power cars, blue and carmillon for the passenger cars.

Train 01 was present for a last "goodbye" at Paris Gare de Lyon on the weekend of February 29th and March 1st, as well as at Lyon Perrache station on the weekend of March 7th and 8th, 2020. On board the train, an exhibition (photos, videos, models) retraced the history of high speed, from the creation of the first LGVs to the TGV of the future, with in particular a focus on the TGV speed records.

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