Toot Sweet: French Train Sets Speed Record

(CBS/AP)  A French train with a 25,000-horsepower engine and special wheels broke the world speed record Tuesday for conventional rail trains, reaching 357.2 mph as it zipped through the countryside to the applause of spectators.

Roaring like a jet plane, with sparks flying overhead and kicking up a long trail of dust, the black and chrome V150 with three double-decker cars surpassed the record of 320.2 mph set in 1990 by another French train.

At that speed, it could get from Washington to New York City in 40 minutes instead of the three hours it takes now, CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips reports.

However, the French train fell short of beating the ultimate record set by Japan's magnetically levitated train, which hit 361 mph in 2003.

The French TGV, or "train a grande vitesse," as the country's bullet train is called, had two engines on either side of the three double-decker cars for the record run, some 125 miles east of the capital on a new track linking Paris with Strasbourg.

The demonstration was meant to showcase technology that France is trying to sell to overseas markets such as China. Hours before the run, Transport Minister Dominique Perben received a delegation from California, which is studying prospects for a high-speed line from Sacramento to San Diego, via San Francisco and Los Angeles.

As the V150 sped through the countryside, people lined bridges and clapped and cheered when it roared beneath them.

"We saw the countryside go by a little faster than we did during the tests," said Eric Pieczac, who operated the train. "I'm proud to have fulfilled the mission."

"Everything went very well," he added.

Technicians on the train had "French excellence" emblazoned on the backs of their T-shirts.

Philippe Mellier, president of Alstom Transports, the builder, had said before the test that the train would try to break the record held by the Japanese mag-lev train. The company bid $40 million for the train, Phillips reports.

The V150 was equipped with larger wheels than the usual TGV to cover more ground with each rotation and a stronger, 25,000-horsepower engine, said Alain Cuccaroni, in charge of the technical aspects of testing.

Adjustments also were made to the new track, which opens June 10, notably the banking on turns. Rails were also treated to the wheels could would perfect contact, Cuccaroni said. The electrical tension in the overhead cable was increased from 25,000 volts to 31,000.

It was the first time that double-decker cars were used at such a high speed, according to officials of Alstom, which makes TGVs and crawled back a year ago from the edge of bankruptcy.

The double-decker cars were transformed into a laboratory for the event so that technicians from the state-run rail company SNCF and Alstom could gather data during the run.

The goal was more than "simply breaking a record," Cuccaroni said, adding that data from the test should help improve the security and comfort of passengers.

The record gilds France's image in the expanding market for high-speed technology as countries turn to bullet trains. France competes with neighboring Germany and with Japan for contracts.

China, the biggest potential market, plans to start building a high-speed line this year between Beijing and Shanghai to cut travel time from nine hours to five.

[rf35]

One more thing...why is nuclear power unfortunate? I think this is one of the better alternatives to carbon-based power generation. Yes, the waste products can be an issue, but there are ways to minimize this. Maybe a bigger problem in a country like France where possible storage space is somewhat limited, but with a good bit of planning and a dose of common sense it could be made to work here.

[rf35]

I agree that trains are a better choice than airplanes. But America no longer has a viable passenger rail system. When I lived in Japan, I rode the train often. Not only was it easier and usually faster than the heavily congested highways, it was often cheaper when one takes into account the road tolls, gas, and other expenses of driving.

I think if the American government is serious about saving energy, a push toward rail travel (not subways, but actual cross-country railways) is needed. Where I live now, there is a highly active train track very near by. It is 100% freight. Some states like California seem to be moving in this direction...intra-state, mid-distance, city-to-city rail transport. Keep the planes going to large, hub cities and position rail stations near or inside major airports for travel to the final destination. It will require some infrastructure work, especially if electric power is used, and a paradigm shift on the public's part to get this going, which is why I believe the federal government need to be involved.

[soyouz]

Unfortunatly most of the french electricity is produced in nuclear power plants. A "political" choice, made in the seventies, of energetic independicy due to the lake of coal or oil ressources on the french territory. It's a fact that the debate on renewable energies is not enough open in France. Even if there is a big developement of wind turbines since the last years. The way to produce energy is a major question but another important question is how do you can we consume less energy. It's sure that beating speed records does not bring nothing directly on the probemetic of energy. The major aim of that operation is to promote Alsthom (the TGV builder)technology to conquer more market parts.
But, rf35, you cant ignore that traveling by train is far, really far, economic, in terms of energy saving, than traveling by plane or car.
As people are traveling more and more, developing railroads and stations better than airports and highways is perhaps one of the good questions for a debate.

[rf35]

Time to stir the pot and start a fresh debate:

I wonder if the electricity to run this train comes from coal fired power plants or some sort of clean, renewable energy. Al Gore, is it contributing to global warming or helping to save or sorry butts? France should put more money into a submersible transportation system since much of it will be under water after the ice caps melt.

[navychief8]

by r_bayless,

I guess I was a little vague in what I wrote. I agree with much of what you said. I count myself as neither a Dem or a Repub. I am an independent. And no, that does not mean fence sitter. As I stated in my post, I think the Electoral College hinders our ability to freely elect a leader. I.e. we only get two to choose from in a presidential election as you stated. Term limits would help to get rid of politicians who are more like Mercenaries than representatives to their constituency. I also believe that campaign financing needs to be brought under control. Sadly, these are things that both Dems and Repubs seem to want to keep as they both profit from it. How do we change this? I think that only through united grass roots efforts that completely ignore political affiliation can we see a change. If we elected more Congressmen and women that had no party affiliation we could start to erode the status quo. It is a seemingly impossible nut to crack. But something needs to be done.

[asor1-2009]

"I think it points out problems that we've not been talking about--like a dry drunk and alcoholic family in serious denial.
Posted by l8c6 at 01:43 PM : Apr 03, 2007"

Good point, but I'm afraid those who voted for him won't get it.

[thomderr]

It seems that you got some people thinking, NavyChief8!

(Again, another job well-done by a member of our Armed Forces!)

I'm tired of the bickering, also!

[hawksprings]

Didn't anyone at CBS proof-read this article before they posted it? Or did they just do a google translation from French to English?

[passerby2]

r_bayless,

I couldn't agree more. people who don't follow current issues or simply just don't understand vote based on propaganda. And the only thing we are voting for is the lesser of two evils. Most politicians are out for their own personal gains.

[l8c6]

Stezzer, many would differ. This country is rapidly losing ground.