High-Speed Train

The TGV, short for Train à Grande Vitesse, is a high-speed train designed to cover long distances quickly on suitable railway lines. In France, the first commercial TGV service began in 1981 between Paris and Lyon. On some high-speed lines, TGV trains can reach 320 km/h, while they travel more slowly on conventional tracks.

Their performance depends on dedicated infrastructure: tracks designed for high speeds, broader curves and signalling systems adapted to fast traffic. The trainsets are also designed to reduce aerodynamic effects and remain stable at high speed. A TGV is therefore not simply an ordinary train travelling faster: the train, tracks and safety systems work together as an integrated system.

Electricity powers motors that drive the train’s axles. Electric traction provides substantial power without combustion engines on board. To slow down, the train uses several systems, including electrical braking and mechanical brakes. High speed greatly reduces travel times between cities while allowing many passengers to travel on the same train.

Depending on the railway network, high-speed lines may be used by different services, although they are mainly designed for fast traffic. The TGV has changed intercity travel in France and helped inspire the development of high-speed rail systems in many other countries.