Barcelona-Paris High-Speed Train Service Begins
 

Just heard on The World (PRI)... Story here online -

http://www.theworld.org/2013/01/spain-fast-train/

thanks for the update - it says 'average crusing speed of about 250 mph - I find that hard to believe as TGV in France go only up to about 185 mph and I thought the new Spanish TGVs topped out at about 200 mph.

But a great story and thanks for posting.

ttt

TGVs in France routinely run at an average of 220+ mph. The current TGV world speed record is 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph), achieved on 3 April 2007 on the new LGV Est. There have been numerous recordings of French TGV speeds of over 300 mph.

Note that until next April, you still have to change trains in Figueres Vilafant.

TGVs in France routinely run at an average of 220+ mph>

do you have any source to document this - to my knowledge they run about 190 mph tops - in Spain a bit more and the German ICEs more - this is news to me - source please - routinely means all lines.

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/TGV

<<régulièrement la vitesse de 320 km/h sur des lignes spécifiques (lignes à grande vitesse).>>

We took the train from Paris to Barcelona in November 2012 and absolutely loved the experience. I highly recommend it over the plane if it doesn't take up your entire day. I plan to try the Paris to Milan route next Fall.

<<régulièrement la vitesse de 320 km/h sur des lignes spécifiques (lignes à grande vitesse).>>

exactly - proving yourself wrong, as 320 km/hr = a tad less than 200 mph, exactly what I knew the new TGV-Est and the LGV Med ? (name) can often run at top speed - they do not average that but can routinely roll up to 200 mph, NOT routinely going 220 mph as you previously claimed.

And the new 200 mph speed is up from the traditional `186 mph speeds not thru any new power burst or train designs but basically because now each two train bogies share a middle wheel set - so now for two coupled cars you have three wheel sets and not the previous two - this weight reduction is largely responsible for the boost to 200 mph - the top speed in service though yes tests of very short trains with few people on them have obtained much much higher speeds - along with the reduction of weight from fewer heavy steel wheels and axles yes there were some modest re-designs for aerodynamic reasons.

Now in Spain I understand that TGV type train Barcelona to Madrid can go about 205 mph but has I believe yet to realize its true potential due to rail bed crumbling away or so type of problem with the rail bed actually being able to accommodate high speeds.

And yes I do believe the author of the article posted made a serious error when he/she said the train had a cruising speed of 250 mph - a serious gaffe for anyone writing an article on that train - and no train in Europe TMK even approaches routinely going at 220 mph. Wiki also says 200 mph is the top cruising speed of French TGVs as of mid-May 2011 - I know of no increase in speeds since then and I follow these things pretty close.

But I would love to see any support you can come up with for you 220 mph routine speed - I may have missed something so please document your statement about the 220 mph, thanks - I always like to keep up to date with these things - can't help having been a European rail nut for decades now and always tracking the higher speeds.

I think they've done some tests and had very high speeds and world records for speed, but that isn't the speed they normally run on any line (over 225). TGV itself says their speed is normally up to 201 mph (332 kph), and that is certainly my experience and all I've ever read (not that I am a train buff, though). TGV says http://tgv.tgv-europe.com/en/tgv-speed

Also, most TGV trains cannot go that fast, I think there are plans to have the highest speed trains/tracks (LGV) on the eastern route but it hasn't been completed yet. There is supposed to be an LGV line Angouleme to Bordeaux, also, but I thought that work just started. see http://www.sudouest.fr/2012/05/16/et...716443-731.php

In any case, 200 mph is good enough for me and I'm glad you posted this notice as I'm tentatively planning a trip to Barcelona and Paris next summer and this gives me an option I wasn't aware of to get between the two.

Does anybody know if the Barca-Paris train stops anywhere en route, other than Figueres? Also, does anyone have a link to a site that shows the actual route?

I think they've done some tests and had very high speeds and world records for speed,>

yes with very short train sets of a few cars - greatly reducing the weight being pulled - similarly records are set with nearly no one or luggage on board - this may lead some to mistakinly say French TGVs routinely go 220 mph when in fact these are special trains that may routinely go that fast but not in regular service - as Christina correctly points out!