ALSTOM, the TGV Manufacturer, Joins the East European TGV Enterprise Club
18 April 2006 12:50
Prior to the opening of the East European high-speed line in June 2007, ALSTOM has joined forces with the SNCF to further develop the TGV in France and Europe. ALSTOM, manufacturer of the TGV, leads the high-speed train market with an 80% share in Europe and in excess of 50% worldwide. Over its 25 years of experience, ALSTOM has sold close to 550 TGV trainsets since the first TGV 001 prototype trainset left the Belfort plant.
Today, the Eastern TGV is heir to of a three-generation family:
1981: the first generation of TGVs, running between Paris and south-eastern France, was commissioned. This generation got a new lease of life in 1998 with the commissioning of the French Mediterranean high-speed line. Technical enhancements allowed these trains, originally designed to run at 260km/h, to travel at speeds of up to 300km/h.
1990: the second generation Atlantic TGV broke the world railway speed record of 513.5km/h, a record that remains unbeaten today.
1996: the third generation, with the Duplex TGV, tripled passenger capacity per trainset, carrying up to 1,200 passengers - the equivalent of two Boeing 747s. The success of this model is such that 110 trainsets are scheduled to be in service by 2010.
The industry reference in very high-speed, ALSTOM trains are the only ones to:
- Run at 300km/h in commercial service
- Run in nine countries in Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom) and Asia (South Korea)
- Have carried over 500 million passengers in 25 years of operation, and travelled more than one billion kilometres
The East European TGV, the latest single-decker TGV ordered by the SNCF in January 2003, will confirm ALSTOM's technological advances across Europe from summer 2007.
At the partnership signature with the SNCF, Thierry Best, Director of ALSTOM Transport France commented, "We are delighted that this agreement will continue the long tradition of partnership between SNCF and ALSTOM. As manufacturer of the TGV and leader in the very high-speed train market for the last 25 years, we are proud to take this new step to further develop the TGV in France and in Europe. The latest generation of TGV motor units will enable SNCF customers to travel safely, comfortably and punctually at even faster speeds."
For more information on this company:
ALSTOM - Very High Speed, Intercity and Surburban Trains
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