SNCF TGV La Poste
French high-speed mail trainset
- Overhead line:
- 25 kV 50 Hz AC
- 1,500 V DC
The TGV La Poste were dedicated trainsets for high-speed freight and mail transportation by French railway company SNCF on behalf of the French postal carrier La Poste. The top speed of this TGV Sud-Est derivate was 270 km/h (168 mph), making them the fastest freight trains in the world.[citation needed] They were withdrawn in 2015.[1]
Services
The trainsets were built by Alstom between 1978 and 1986. These TGV units are essentially TGV Sud-Est trainsets that are modified for transporting mail. 5 half-trainsets were built, numbered 1–5. A further two, numbered 6 and 7, were converted from former TGV-SE trainset no. 38. Each half-trainset consisted of a power car and four intermediate-trailers.[citation needed]
In 2009, La Poste reduced services from 8 to 6 daily round trips.[2]
On 21 March 2012 a demonstration freight train ran to London-St Pancras,[3] but there was no follow-up.
In mid-2015, La Poste ended TGV postal services, shifting mail services to swap bodies instead as part of a major logistics restructuring and expansion which the trainsets were not capable of handling.[1][4] Additionally, the demand for fast overnight mail services has been decreasing in recent years. The final service was on 27 June 2015 between Cavaillon (Marseilles) and Charolais (Paris).[1] La Poste originally was seeking a buyer for the fleet,[1] however in December 2016 three trainsets were dismantled by SME (Société Métallurgique d'Épernay)[5] leaving only a half spare trainset left.
Fleet details
| Class | Number in service | Year built | Operator | Current units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 923000 | 2.5 (5 half-sets) | 1981 | La Poste | P1-P5 | |
| 1 (2 half-sets) | 1984 | P6-P7 | Rebuilt from SNCF TGV Sud-Est passenger trainset no. 38 |
See also
- British Rail Class 325, 161 km/h (100 mph) postal EMUs used in Britain
- ETR 500, in freight operation since October, 2018. Maximum speed is 300 km/h (186 mph), average speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).
References
- ^ a b c d e Barrow, Keith (29 June 2015). "Last post for French high-speed freight as postal TGVs bow out". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "TGV: La Poste supprime un quart des TGV postaux". Passion - Trains (in French). 24 April 2009.
- ^ "Demonstration high speed freight train links Lyon and London". Railway Gazette International. 21 March 2012.
- ^ "Swap bodies to carry mail by rail". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ Rapport de présentation 'Prestations de démantèlement de rames Tgv postal'. G Chan Liat (in French). 3 September 2016
Further reading
- Perren, Brian (15–28 February 1995). Kelly, Peter (ed.). "Speeding La Poste". RAIL. No. 246. pp. 36–37. ISSN 0953-4563.
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see also SNCF coaches, SNCF locomotives, List of SNCF classes
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