PalenQ

I chanced to be in France Feb 5, 2008 when Althsom, the French company that has provided some 70% of the world's highspeed trains, rolled out its newest generation highspeed train - the AGV or Automotrice a Grande Vitesse - High-Speed Automotive train that not only is scheduled to replace by 2014 300-400 train sets of France's currently aging TGV fleet of trains as well as provide trains to other countries, such as Italy which has already place a 1.5 euro order.

Nonetheless than President Sarkozy cut the ribbon on the test track at La Rochelle to roll out the AGV for its first public unveiling.

PalenQ

the new AGV train will go 25 mph faster than current TGV trains - reaching 224 mph or 360 km/h

Indeed the new speed record set last year on the TGV-Est new highspeed line was with trains adapted to AGV technology whose main savings is on weight as there are no engines as engines have been placed throughout the train under or between the cars - this will allow them to carry an incredible 650 more passengers than existing TGV trains with huge engine cars

PalenQ

AGVs are 98% recyclable!

Its energy consumption, due to less heavy composite materials than TGVs, allows it to run 15% more economically on the same fuel

plus with 650 more passengers per train the economy is even more

AGV consumes less than gas consumption per passenger than a bus, 8 times less than automobiles and 13 times less than airplanes

the green way to go it seems

AnthonyGA

Trains are among the most economical forms of transportation around, and that has been true ever since they were invented.

kerouac

I would have thought that even Italy could afford more than a 1.5 euro order. Hell, even I could afford a 2-euro order!

PatrickLondon

But how much tip did they leave?

kenderina

I think the tip was a bit more of one million and a half euro...and they say italians don't tip !!

PalenQ

hah hah

1.5 billion euro

or 1,500,000,000,000,000,000,000 Italian Lire

includes the bribes

Dukey

Yes, Pal, but are those new trains "bio?" After all, we wouldn't want any of our friends over in the land of paper-thin steaks and soggy fries to get sick.

PalenQ

Dukey - everything in France at least in now BIO - everything - put angst to rest

PalenQ

Indeed the AGVs can run on old frites grease, surplus cheap wine that's piling up and fair trade coffee if need be

PalenQ

Unlike the first generation and even more revolutionary TGVs that were trotted out some 25 years ago i believe the AGV was developed without any support or stake from the SNCF or French Railways

Strategically the AGV is designed to run on all European high-speed lines - the technology will adapt to different voltages, etc. as well as anywhere in the world and China, South Korea, Brazil, the U.S., Iceland and Albania are key markets being targeted.

PalenQ

Automotrice à grande vitesse - Wikipedia

The AGV is an Alstom train intended as the successor to France’s TGV high-speed trains; the name stands for automotrice à grande vitesse , or ‘high-speed ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotrice_à_grande_vitesse

Alstom shows off its newest, fastest train - International Herald ...Feb 5, 2008 ... He said Alstom had developed the train using its own funds. The AGV trains will mark "a new stage in the competition with the airlines," ...
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/...ess/alstom.php

YouTube - Reveal AGV Alstom
Lancement du nouveau train à très grande vitesse Alstom, le ...

Watch video - 2 min 27 sec -

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv4SnWl89f8