French railways Tres grand void

摘要

Louis gallois, the boss of sncf (the French state railway operator), was radiantly happy glugging champagne in front of the television cameras last weekend, after a French high-speed train (tgv) had matched Japan's world record for long-distance speed. The tgv covered the 663 miles (1,067km) from Calais to Marseilles in three-and-a-half hours, at an average speed of 190 miles an hour (306kph). At one point, the train clocked 366kph, in a stunt organised by Mr Gallois to publicise the opening next week of the high-speed service from Paris to Marseilles. But it was of more than symbolic importance. It means that the impressive tgv network now covers the entire length and breadth of France.