Why French Trains Are The Fastest
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Published 2023-07-02
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In the 1950s many believed that railways were an antiquated 19th century technology, soon to be replaced by faster and more convenient forms of transportation. Short and medium-haul jet travel offered unparalleled speed, while the automobile promised unmatched flexibility and convenience. In France, the fastest express trains (Le Mistral) only averaged speeds of just 120km/h.
Although French engineers had set remarkable railway speed records during the decade, including reaching 331 km/h in 1955, few considered railways to have much of a future. To compete against newer forms of transport, trains would need faster service speeds. This would require engineering new locomotives, as well as rebuilding rail lines with greater precision, gentler curves, smaller grades and in-cab signaling. The effort and resources required seemed too great to be worthwhile.
Opening in 1964, the Shinkansen was the world’s first true high-speed railway. Connecting Japan’s two largest cities (in the 1960s), Tokyo and Osaka, and travelling at speeds in excess of 120 mph (200 km/h), the new specially-designed Shinkansen trains had the highest service speeds in the world.
While the Shinkansen was viewed with admiration around the world, French railway engineers were still world leaders in areas of acceleration, braking, and electric pickup at high speeds. In fact, many of the technologies used on the Shinkansen were pioneered by French railway engineers.
Inspired by the Japanese experience, the SNCF began experimental work on a high-speed rail network for France. Called the TGV ( Train à Grande Vitesse, or "high-speed train" in French), they focused on a more cost-effective approach that would leverage existing infrastructure as well as newly developed technologies like gas turbine propulsion. But the road to high-speed rail in France would be fraught with skepticism, opposition and competing visions for the future of transport.
References:
Jacob Meunier, On the Fast Track. French Railway Modernization and the Origins of the TGV, 1944–1983 (London: Greenwood 2002)
All Comments (21)
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Trains are one of the most under appreciated technological marvels. Truly magnificent vehicles.
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I think we don't realized how insane and visionary was the TGV engineering exploit. It was 50 years ago, and it's more relevant than ever. It's still the fastest and most efficient trains in Europe nowadays (320-330 km/h on top speed), and is the backbone of western Europe passengers transportations.
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One of the most neglected aspects of high-speed rail: It gets you straight from city-center to city-center — while air travel requires you to travel to (often remote) hubs far from cities.
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As a french student, TGV has made my life so easy those past years. It's just so incredible convenient to cross the largest country of the EU
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To this day this train looks absolutely stunning, always love when designers from the past wanted something futuristic looking and how we look at it 40 years later
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Why does Mustard always choose the topics I absolutely love? Thank you Mustard!
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As a North American, whose only options are "drive for 10 hours" or "deal with the BS of flying", I am so jealous of these beautiful trains...
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As an SNCF employee I know this story very well and I’m really impressed by the quality of this episode and how well your are documented 😃 it makes me even prouder to be part of this huge adventure knowing how complex and difficult it is to run a train (from the slowest Freight to the TGV). Thanks Mustard 😊
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Mustard never ceases to amaze me. You are an inspiration to all plane, train and vehicle lovers! What an honor to have this content for free. Much love from Brazil!
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as someone from France , i can assure you that the TGV is one of the best option for domestic travel. Not to the forget the rest of the railway network (RER, TER, etc...) that connects almost every part of France that the big High Speed lines doesn't connect. Today, going to work every day 300km away from where you live is not only viable but also very convenient (go the railway station -> get on the train -> wait comfortably for an hour -> boom you're in another city 300km away). Very proud of the piece of french engineering. TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse/High Speed Train) also stand for Tequilla Gin Vodka here and it's another way to get somewhere (drunk) really fast.
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Hello there, I rarely comment on youtube but I just wanted to say that I was a proud neighbour to Jacques Cooper, the designer of the TGV. We regularly went to his place and he had miniature train tracks in his basement. He still lives there in the west suburbs of Paris in a city called Suresnes. I’m so happy to see him mentioned because he never really sought to be recognised for his amazing work and my family even pushed for a local journalist to interview him. He is such a kind and humble man, i wish he could see that people from across the globe recognise his amazing work and designs. Thank you for mentioning him.
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The 2007 record footage is absolutely emotionnal to watch ! It's insane to feel a machine to its limits !
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Y'know its gonna be a fire video when its Mustard talking about trains
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Currently watching this inside a TGV launched at 310km/h. Brilliant as always !
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As a french, I can confidently say that we are proud of this train and that it is really helpful for a lot of us. Thank you for making this video
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The TGV is amazing. The ride is smooth, the seats are comfortable, and it's fun to watch the cars appear to go backwards on the nearby highway.
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Two years ago I worked under the guidance of one of the men who designed the original TGV for my end of studies project. Man was an absolute genius and my teacher had the same rapport to him as we did to our teacher. A gentle old man, wisest person I've ever talked to.
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The TGV in it's original orange livery is just perfection. I wish they hadn't changed it.
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As a 23 year old Canadian in 1982, backpacking through Europe, I had the chance to travel on the TGV to Lyon with my Eurailpass. It was an unbelievable experience. More than 40 years later Canada still doesn't have a high speed train 😢
