SNCF TGV POS

SNCF TGV POS

The TGV POS is a TGV train built by French manufacturer Alstom which is operated by the French national rail company, the SNCF, in France's high-speed rail lines. It was originally ordered by the SNCF for use on the new LGV Est, which was put into service in 2007. "POS" stands for Paris-Ostfrankreich-Süddeutschland (German for Paris, Eastern France, Southern Germany).

Each train is formed of eight existing TGV Réseau single-deck carriages paired with new power cars, with a total power output of 9.6 MW (12,900 hp) and a top speed of 320 kilometres per hour (199 mph) under 25 kV. The TGV Réseau power cars thus freed have been matched to new TGV Duplex carriages to create TGV Duplex - TGV Réseau hybrid sets. This is because traffic on the LGV Est is expected to be less than on the heavily congested LGV Sud-Est.

Like the TGV TMST, the TGV POS power cars have asynchronous motors and, in case of failure, isolation of an individual motor in a powered bogie is possible. By using IGBT power packs, the new power cars are capable of developing 75% of their full rated power under 15 kV German and Swiss electrifications, compared to 45% for existing TGV power cars. This allows POS trains to operate at the same speed as Intercity-Express trains in Germany.

The TGV POS links France with Germany and Switzerland. In Switzerland, it travels from Basel to Zurich and on the line from Vallorbe to Lausanne coming from Paris.

Each TGV POS trainset weighs 383 t (377 long tons; 422 short tons) and is numbered in the 4400 series. The livery is the same as that of TGV Réseau sets (silver and blue). Pre-production set No 4401 had a prototype livery similar as the one used on the TGV Duplex sets but, in March 2007, the blue areas were stickered over with silver and is now in appearance the same as the other sets.

Read more about SNCF TGV POS:  World Rail Speed Record, See Also