Some Basic TGV Background

If you're not too familiar with the TGV, this is a good place to start. TGV fundamentals, with a brief history.

The TGV Spotter's Guide

A catalog of the different generations of TGV trainsets, with pictures and key specifications. You can also link to more information about Réseau, Eurostar, Duplex and Thalys.

"Under the Hood" of a TGV

A short exposition of the insides of a TGV power unit.

TGV System Map

Find out where everything is!

How TGV Lines are Built

A new high speed line in ten easy steps, with pictures.

TGV Nord-Europe

Facts and figures about the TGV line to northern France, along with some information about the TGV Réseau trainsets, which were introduced at the time of its opening.

Complete coverage of the world speed record, set on 18 May 1990 at 515.3 km/h (320.3 mph) by a slightly altered TGV Atlantique. The information, taken from La Vie du Rail, is separated by topic; reading the articles in sequence is recommended.

The Record Runs: Introduction
Preparation of the Track
Preparation of TGV Trainset 325
Chronology of the Record Runs

THE FUTURE TGV

Recent TGV Research and Development

A general overview of the research efforts going towards new generations of TGV trainsets. This material, culled from various issues of La Vie du Rail, does not get too technical, but gives a good general survey of French high speed rail R&D.

SNCF Direction de la Recherche

(In French, out of service as of February 1996) This is the research branch of the French national railways, SNCF. They work closely with industry in the development of new high speed rail technology. Note information on the TGV Fret, a cross between a freight train and a cargo plane. This project is currently shelved due to lack of funding.

Eurostar: Introduction

What is Eurostar, where does it go, a little bit of history, and some facts and figures.

Eurostar Trip Reports

These were written by people who actually rode Eurostar.

Erik Evrard
Steve Sangwine (with pictures)
Jeff Lunden
Jishnu Mukerji
David Bunny

Eurostar Pages on Mercurio

A good place to start if you're planning a journey on Eurostar.

Commercial Eurostar Sites

Complete schedules, booking, etc... and even the occasional technical tidbit.

TGV Models

A growing list of TGV models available in HO and N scale.

TGV Schedules

These are provided as a convenience only-- this page is for railway fans, not travel planning! Links will be added as they become available.

Pictures

Some more TGV pictures from the Mercurio archive, mainly of PSE and Atlantique trainsets.

TGV Signalling

A short description of the TVM 300 and TVM 430 cab signals, taken by David Bunny from the TGV Handbook by Perren.

Encyclopedia References

Articles from the Encyclopedia Britannica, concerning the TGV. This material, if not very detailed, provides some useful context for the other documents in these pages. You can access Britannica Online only if your site is a subscriber.

Safety Critical Software for the TGV

A promotional paper by Ada Software, giving some details about the TVM 430 cab signal, written in Ada, and used on the Réseau and Eurostar trainsets.

Some links to high speed train resources concerning trains other than the TGV. Information on the ICE, the AVE, the ETR 500, and many other newer concepts including Maglev.

Please contact me! I would like your feedback on what you like and don't like about these pages. Questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, links, etc... But please, do NOT ask me questions about planning your trip. I am not a travel agent, and this page is just a hobby. I have no commercial affiliation with anyone whatsoever.