Philippe Hérissé was on board the special TGV trainset that broke the rail speed record last week, and begins a detailed account of his experience. In French. Via TrainBlog. Previously: TGV Speed Record Video; 574.8 Kilometres Per Hour; SNCF Hypes Imminent TGV Record Attempt; Another TGV Speed Record.
Minnesota Public Radio on Amtrak, passenger rail in the Midwest, and the possibility of high-speed rail between Minneapolis and Chicago. Rail service between major centres — especially when they’re at a great distance from one another — compares poorly to air travel in terms of both cost and speed, but along the Empire Builder’s line […]
Rail stocks soared yesterday when it was revealed that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is now the largest single shareholder in BNSF. Apparently, people think he knows something. But rail stocks have been hot for a while. Former VIA Rail chairman Jean Pelletier won another court case last month, this one a wrongful-dismissal case against the […]
A video of yesterday’s TGV speed record: Via Marcel.
The official TGV speed record attempt took place today, the Associated Press reports (Washington Post). Via Marcel. 574.8 km/h. Or, if you prefer, 357.2 mph. Or, if you prefer, 160 m/s. 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 […]
SNCF’s “official” TGV speed record attempt — as opposed to its “unofficial” speed record — is apparently taking place on April 3, weather permitting, but you wouldn’t believe the hype in the meantime. The special trainset, in special livery, is the focus of attention (video), and there’s even a contest to win a seat on […]
High Speed Rail Now is a blog that advocates high-speed rail for California. The premise is explained in the inaugural post: “California needs high speed rail more than most any other place on earth that does not yet have it. The charter for this blog is to provide both a visceral and technical understanding of […]
Earlier this month came word that the SNCF’s TGV set an unofficial speed record during tests on the new Paris-Strasbourg line, reaching a maximum speed of 553 km/h. By unofficial, they mean that this is not the “official” record attempt; that’s supposed to take place in April. What does 553 km/h look like? Something like […]
“Train surfing” is the act of riding a train on its roof. It’s dangerous, it’s usually illegal, and yes, it’s pretty fucking stupid. It’s also a serious issue in some parts of the world: Brazil and South Africa come to mind, but incidents can occur more or less wherever there are trains and dumb young […]
The Associated Press covers the debut of Taiwan’s high-speed rail service, including some of the technical glitches involved in ticket purchases; The New York Times provides background on the project’s long and controversial history: But the system’s enormous cost — $15 billion, or $650 for every man, woman and child on Taiwan — has made […]
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