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History Of The French TGV

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The TGV Fastest Train In The World

In 1981 the fastest train in France and whole Europe was born. Today the TGV is going strong and it's the fastest train in the world. On April 2007 the TGV beat the world record of 574 KM/H 357 MPH.

It seems like yesterday when the first TGV with its orange color was inaugurating its first trip from Paris to Lyon in exactly 2 hours. A trip taking a 5 hour drive by roads was now a short trip of only 2 hours by train.

The TGV was the BIG boost that the SNCF (Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer) the National French Railroad Company needed. Since then the railroad industry in France has seen a rebirth and a great increase in travelers. People who needed to travel from the two largest cities of France, Paris and Lyon did not hesitate to buy a very affordable ticket and travel in the fast comfort of the TGV.

Today the TGV has spread far and wide to most of all the largest cities of France and extended to Europe. Here are some details of the birth and growth of the fastest train in the world.

TGV 001 - French Turbo Train - 1972

Let's go back to the history of the TGV

The search and exploration of technology for a fast train started in 1960 in France, some twenty years before the first trip of the fastest train of Europe known as TGV (Train a Grande Vitesse) translating as (fast speed train).

In 1972 the TGV 001 Turbotrain was born. It was a test train for further research program encompassing traction, vehicle dynamics, braking, aerodynamics, signalling, and other technologies that needed to be developed to allow higher speeds.

TGV Turbotrain was a short train with two power cars and three trailers in between. TGV 001 turbotrain exceeded 318 km/h (198 mph). To this day it is the fastest non-electric train.

Two years later, however, soon after Turbotrain was created, oil crisis made it no longer economically viable to run such a fast train. If France were to have the fastest train, it had to be powered by electricity.

TGV First Line - Paris-Lyon - 1981

The rebirth of the fast train

On September 1981, the first TGV line opened to the public with its first line going from Paris to Lyon and back, making the two cities 425 kilometers (265 miles) apart only at a mere 2 hours of one another, reaching 300 Km/h (187 MPH).

This was only the beginning of the massive expansion of the TGV train system that exist today which covers most major to medium cities of France as well as other countries of Europe such as Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and England.

The SNCF (Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer), the French National Rail Road company is so on top of the TGV travel network that it will refund your ticket if your arrival is delayed over 30 minutes than planned.

Local French airlines not even being able to compete with the efficiency of the TGV high speed train have decided to become a partner and a TGV train station has been built within the Charles de Gaulle international airport to take travelers to their final city destination from Paris.

From Turbotrain - 1972 to TGV - 1981

High-Speed Railways

Just like no race car drives on national roads or highways, the TGV had to have its own railways.

The construction of the new high-speed railway in France started in 1976. Today there are some 100,000 kilometers or 62,000 miles of rail roads built for the TGV.

The cost for the high-speed railway construction in France was $15.1 million/km.

All The TGV Train Services

TGV Sud-Est

First TGV serving Paris-Lyon since 1981, now extending to Marseille. At 300 km/h TGV links Paris to Marseille in about 4 hours. An 8 hour trip by car.

TGV Atlantique

In service since 1989, it was the second TGV line built. It is serving the west side of France Paris-tour/ Paris-Le Mans.

TGV Reseau

Opened in 1992 and serving Lyon - Valence

TGV Eurostar

Serving Britain, France and Belgium via the Channel Tunnel opened in 1993.

TGV Duplex

The TGV Sud-Est from Paris to Lyon is the busiest high speed line in France and was in need of more trains or more room. So, was born the Duplex with two levels which started servicing the Sud-Est area in 1995.

The TGV Thalys PBKA in service sine 1998 is serving Paris-Brussels-Koln in Germany and Amsterdam, Netherlands. The reason for the initials PBKA.

TGV POS serving Paris-Southern Germany opened in 2007. The line tested for extreme speed of 574 km/h (357mph).

How to get into the TGV train at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Once you,ve got off your international flight you will be directed to the immigration control point. This process can actually be pretty quick especially if you are sitting near the front of the plane and won't be delayed by the line.

Once you are done with the immigration passport control you need to go collect your luggage which should take you 20 to 30 minutes, then you will need to go to the custom control for luggage. Unless you arouse curiosity for some reasons, you should not be stopped in this area.

Once you are done with custom, you need to follow the blue signs indicting Terminal 2 where the Gare SNCF (Railway Station) is located. Depending on what terminal you have arrived at the airport you might need to take the shuttle and get to terminal 2 with the RER (subway) which will take you to the TGV station on Terminal 2.

From there you will be able to go to your final destination and be on your way instead of waiting something hours at the time for you last local flight.