World Rail Speed Record
A train using both power cars of the TGV POS trainset number 4402 set a new world speed record (for travel on conventional rails) on April 3, 2007. The train reached 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph). As part of a series of increasingly faster runs that culminated in the official record attempt, it set an unofficial speed record of 554.3 km/h (344.4 mph) on 13 February 2007.
The trainset comprised three specially modified Duplex cars, fitted with two powered bogies similar to the AGV prototype, marshalled between the TGV POS power cars. The record trainset, configured as Bo'Bo'+2'Bo'Bo'2'+Bo'Bo', had four more powered axles than trainset 325 during the 1990 speed record, and had a theoretical maximum power output of 19.6 MW (26,300 hp) instead of the 9.3 MW (12,500 hp) on a standard TGV. Over 600 sensors were fitted on various parts of both the engines and the cars.
The train set ran with larger wheels, and the catenary voltage was increased to 31 kV from the standard 25 kV. The maximum speed was achieved near kilometer post 193 on the LGV Est between Meuse and Champagne-Ardenne TGV stations. Despite making headlines, this run is commercially impractical with this special trainset rendered out of order and normal trainsets designed for 25 kV operation only.
Read more about this topic: SNCF TGV POS
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