Tuesday 3 April 2007

High speed trains in ADELAIDE ?


Throughout Europe, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and South America, etc, ALSTOM, is forging ahead in it's pursuit of Excellence in High Speed Rail transportation. In a couple of days Eric Pieczak will propel an ALSTOM 'Train à Grande Vitesse' at hopefully a speed exceeding 540 kilometres per hour on the line TGV EST EUROPÉEN from Paris to Strasbourg while the world waits with bated breath.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Australians are paddling in the backwaters like the Sleep's Hill Viaduct, above. Phillipe Mellier, you are always welcome, here in Australia. I will put my money on 560kph, one way bet!

J'espère que les temps font fraîches, sèches et ensoleillées, M. Pieczak.

17 comments:

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

Imagine going on that ! Ugh i'm feeling queasy already . Not for me.

M.Benaut said...

Paris - Strasbourg, perhaps?

angela said...

That definitely looks rickety.
I'll take the plane, thanks.
Angela

Ame said...

My kind of train....sloooooooooooooooow and steady...wins the race doesn't it?

Much better than hurtling off a track at 540MPH during a derailment, right?! EEEK! LOL!

;)

Monica said...

Funny, it's not theme day but you and Eric posted the same subject. Just a subtle difference between yours and his!!!

dive said...

Wow!
Can we Brits buy some of those new fangled steam trains off you guys?
I travel on the worst commuter line in the country with the worst trains in the world. Steam would be a big step up.

Michael Salone said...

M et Mme Benault...you're definitely hired. However, I'm sure I need to come to Adelaide to conduct the interviews personally. Just to make sure you are of the right character and know how to show a tourist a good time.

Ame, I can't believe you even uttered those words! Shame!

Michael Salone said...

Dive, I'm not so sure it's your trains that are so bad, but the system of operating them, no?

Anonymous said...

Thanks Michael and you are welcome in Adelaide anytime. We love personal interviews. I once held a 'TOP SECRET' security clearance. Don't get one of those unless your character is impeccable. That was before I met M.B though ...

alice said...

From the 10th of June, we can travel between Vannes and Nancy (where my daughter is studying) in only 5 hours! I'm very happy for that! Today, we must take a first TGV to Paris, cross Paris from Montparnasse station to Gare de l'Est in less than one hour, take another old and slow train to Nancy, a seven and a half journey...Vivement le mois de juin! Et oui, M.Benaut, le temps est frais, sec et ensoleillé aujourd'hui, de bonnes conditions pour le record!

Chuckeroon said...

I heard on BBC that the record was more than broken. Well done TGV!!!

Michael Salone said...

Too late Mme Benault...I've already done the TS clearance bit. How exciting.

I'm really writing to give you the latest update from Alstom Headquarters. Everyone was in the lobby of the company watching it live. The final stats are in:

574.8 km/h: Alstom Transport’s V150 trainset sets a new world rail speed record. Mission accomplished : the V150 trainset has reached a speed of 574.8 km/h at kilometre point 191 on the new East European LGV™ high-speed line, in France. At 1.13 pm CET, on Tuesday 3 April, V150 pushed back exceeded by 59.5km/h the previous world rail speed record established in 1990.

M.Benaut said...

Michael, that is truly magnifique. You all need to be congratulated, heartily !!!
France 24 is under such heavy demand, I can not get in to see any video footage. It would be great if you could think of a link. So far I have seen the BBC, which was pretty nice, but too pixilated.

Everybody, Thanks so much for making this such a good day. All little boys love trains and now we will see what happens in Brazil?

Monica said...

M.Benaut, what happens in Brazil regarding trains? If that´s what you mean, it´s in Michael´s hand the ´decision´ whether we will be riding TGV´s or not. We´re totally depending on him!!

(see Michael how powerful you are!!)

Michael Salone said...

Not in my hands Monica, for if it were, I'd be helping as much as I could.

Here is a link from Reuters on the actual record-breaking TGV run. (not sure how long the link will be good)

Monica said...

Are you kiddind Michael?!! You just say the word and the TGV folks will all follow your orders, I'm positive about it!
Actually, tell them it's Monica's orders and they will obey right away I'm sure ;-)

Anonymous said...

Sleep's Hill viaduct has not been used since 1919. Go back to Europe if you dislike Australia so much!