TGV

abbreviationStandard termRailroad

Train à Grande Vitesse, the French high-speed rail network and its distinctive trainsets.

Train à Grande Vitesse is a pioneering high-speed passenger train system developed in France. Operating on dedicated, specially engineered tracks with continuous welded rail and in-cab signaling, these electric multiple units routinely travel at speeds over 300 kilometers per hour. The technology set the global benchmark for high-speed rail development.

Heard on the job

The new corridor was engineered to TGV standards, eliminating grade crossings and enforcing massive curve radii.

Insider tip

While strictly a French system, North American engineers often use TGV as a shorthand comparison when discussing the track geometry required for true high-speed rail.