SNCF TGV Duplex
Encyclopedia
The TGV Duplex is a French
high-speed train
of the TGV
family, operated by SNCF
, the French national railway company. It is unique among TGV trains in that it features bi-level carriages
. The Duplex inaugurated the third generation of TGV trainsets, and was specially designed to increase capacity on high-speed line
s with saturated traffic. With two seating levels and a seating capacity
of 545 passengers, the Duplex maximizes the number of passengers carried in one trainset. While the TGV Duplex started as a small component of the TGV fleet, it has become one of the system's main workhorses.
The LGV Sud-Est
from Paris
to Lyon
is the busiest high-speed line in France, and after its opening in 1981 it rapidly reached capacity. When a railway line reaches its saturation limit, there are several options available to increase capacity. One way is to reduce train headway
s (the time between each train), i.e. to fit more trains onto the line at once. To achieve this, increasingly complex signalling
systems and high-performance brakes (to reduce braking distance
) are required. While these avenues have already been pursued to some extent by SNCF (headways have been reduced to three minutes on some TGV lines), the technical difficulties of continually improving signalling and braking make other solutions to the problem more attractive.
Another option is to change the size of the train. Making the train wider is generally not practicable due to gauging restrictions. Running two trainsets coupled together in multiple-unit
(MU) configuration provides extra capacity but in this case not enough and had the added disadvantage of requiring very long station platform
s. If a train cannot be made longer or wider, then the remaining option is to make it taller, resulting in a bi-level configuration, with passenger seating on two levels, and 45% more passenger capacity than an equivalent single-level TGV.
In addition, TGV Duplex sets are often run with a single deck Réseau
set or another Duplex set.
trailer was tested in revenue service with the inside furnished to simulate the lower floor of a bi-level arrangement, and later that year another TGV Sud-Est was modified to study the dynamic behavior of a train with a higher center of gravity. Discussions with GEC-Alsthom
began soon after, and in July 1990 the company won the contract to build the "TGV-2N", as it was then known. The details of the contract were not put in place until early 1991, at which point the official order was made. Since then, technological hurdles have been overcome in a four-year process that led to the first tests of a bi-level trainset in November 1994. Soon after their first run, the first rake of eight trailers was tested at 290 km/h (180 mph) on the Sud-Est line. The trainset was powered by TGV Réseau power cars at the time, as the Duplex power cars were still undergoing development. The first Duplex power car was mated to the bi-level trailers on 21 June 1995.
In this comparison, "power" refers to installed power, not all of which is used when operating.
In fact, the railways had changed an order for 19 Duplex as follows:
They are identical to the whole family "Duplex." It is these that form new motor Duplex Network. Also called "duplex" (with a "small to"), they are the number of 19, numbered from 601 to 619, all connected in Technicentre South-East Europe.
This solution of "tinkering" has allowed the railways to maintain the pace of delivery of Duplex which was considered a priority.
The series has an aesthetic similar to the classic series Duplex, but internal changes have been made.
These trains are rolling the serial number "700". They feature a new powertrain with asynchronous motor of the same type as that of the motor TGV POS, and they also boarded the ERTMS
, new system European signaling. The driving of the train 701 were delivered in late 2006 and joined with section 619 Duplex Network (section delivered for processing and network duplex POS) for tests of preproduction. The train was delivered 701 complete on 14/02/2008.
In June 2007, the SNCF has placed a large order to Alstom
Transport SA 25 Duplex trainsets Dasy additional (+ 3 others 2008). Part of this order is for 55 trains tricourant a new type (high-speed trains and 2 levels (RGV 2N) and a reserve engine, permitting the relationship between France
and Germany
or Switzerland
. Two pre-series trains, currently in testing, should be delivered in late 2010.
These trains will strengthen the connections to the south, including the Perpignan - Figueres, allowing the transit joint Franco-Spanish, completed in February 2009, used from December 2010 to two round trip Paris - Figueres and will be fully opened in 2012 for journeys Paris - Barcelona unchanged. This new infrastructure is innovative in France, because it is designed for high-speed train traffic, AVE and train Freight. It saves huge on travel time. The trains 200 and 600 series will not go to Spain because they are not equipped with ERTMS.
They will also be used on the Rhine-Rhône, which is under construction. This link LGV Dijon
in Mulhouse
from December 2011.
The interior trim has reams of new colors (blue) and new interior (with electrical outlets at the seat in the 1st and 2nd class), the remaining facilities is very similar to those of duplex and an indicator of the speed of a TGV been installed in the car bar, above the bar.
For future orders SNCF plans to change the appearance of TGV and reflects on what could be the face of the future. Indeed, the very first trains operating today in the Southeast, North and Switzerland are beginning to be old and we consider their replacement by 2015-2020.
Territory: All TGV lines except LGV Est
.
Top Speed: 320 km/h (199 mph)
Supply Voltages: , 1.5 kV DC
Traction: 8 3-phase synchronous AC traction motors, 8800 kW under 25 kV supply.
Length and Weight: 200 m (656 ft) / 380 t (374 LT)
Configuration: 1 power car + 8 trailers + 1 power car, 545 seats
Performance Metrics: 23 kW/tonne; 16.15 kW per seat; 0.7 t (0.688942473303479 LT) per seat;
Spotting Features: Bi-level seating, single windshield, rounder nose
Special Notes: Developed to relieve congestion on LGV Sud-Est.
Eurotrain was a consortium formed by Siemens
and GEC-Alsthom (today Alstom
) in 1996 to market high-speed rail technology in Asia. In 1997, it was one of two competitors to supply the core system of Taiwan High Speed Rail
(THSR), and was awarded the status of preferred bidder by concessionaire THSRC.
In early 1998, the two companies created a demonstration train by combining cars of three existing French and German high-speed trains: the intermediate cars of TGV Duplex trainset #224 was joined with German Railways
ICE 2 powerheads 402 042 and 402 046 at the two ends. On 4 May 1998, the Eurotrain demonstration train made a presentation run on the Hanover–Würzburg high-speed railway in Germany, achieving a maximum speed of 316 km/h (196 mph).
In December 2000, THSRC decided to award the contract to the rival Taiwan Shinkansen Consortium, leading to a legal battle ending in damage payments for Eurotrain in 2004.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
high-speed train
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
of the TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
family, operated by SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
, the French national railway company. It is unique among TGV trains in that it features bi-level carriages
Bilevel car
The bilevel car or double-decker coach is a type of rail car that has two levels of passenger accommodation, as opposed to one, increasing passenger capacity ....
. The Duplex inaugurated the third generation of TGV trainsets, and was specially designed to increase capacity on high-speed line
LGV
LGV may stand for:* Large Goods Vehicle in Europe.* Lymphogranuloma venereum* Lignes à Grande Vitesse, French high-speed rail lines:** LGV Atlantique** LGV Est** LGV Interconnexion Est** LGV Nord** LGV Méditerranée** LGV Picardie** LGV Rhône-Alpes...
s with saturated traffic. With two seating levels and a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 545 passengers, the Duplex maximizes the number of passengers carried in one trainset. While the TGV Duplex started as a small component of the TGV fleet, it has become one of the system's main workhorses.
Why the duplex?
LGV Sud-Est
The LGV Sud-Est is a high-speed rail line, which links Paris' and Lyon's suburbs, in France. The inauguration of the first section between Saint-Florentin and Sathonay on 22 September 1981 marked the beginning of the re-invigoration of French passenger rail service.This line, subsequently...
from Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
is the busiest high-speed line in France, and after its opening in 1981 it rapidly reached capacity. When a railway line reaches its saturation limit, there are several options available to increase capacity. One way is to reduce train headway
Headway
Headway is a measurement of the distance/time between vehicles in a transit system. The precise definition varies depending on the application, but it is most commonly measured as the distance from the tip of one vehicle to the tip of the next one behind it, expressed as the time it will take for...
s (the time between each train), i.e. to fit more trains onto the line at once. To achieve this, increasingly complex signalling
Railway signal
A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...
systems and high-performance brakes (to reduce braking distance
Braking distance
Braking distance refers to the distance a vehicle will travel from the point where its brakes are fully applied to when it comes to a complete stop...
) are required. While these avenues have already been pursued to some extent by SNCF (headways have been reduced to three minutes on some TGV lines), the technical difficulties of continually improving signalling and braking make other solutions to the problem more attractive.
Another option is to change the size of the train. Making the train wider is generally not practicable due to gauging restrictions. Running two trainsets coupled together in multiple-unit
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
(MU) configuration provides extra capacity but in this case not enough and had the added disadvantage of requiring very long station platform
Railway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
s. If a train cannot be made longer or wider, then the remaining option is to make it taller, resulting in a bi-level configuration, with passenger seating on two levels, and 45% more passenger capacity than an equivalent single-level TGV.
In addition, TGV Duplex sets are often run with a single deck Réseau
SNCF TGV Réseau
The SNCF TGV Réseau trains were built by Alstom between 1992 and 1996. These TGV trainsets are based on the earlier TGV Atlantique.The first Réseau sets entered service in 1993. Fifty dual-voltage trainsets were built in 1992-1994, numbered 501-550. A further 40 triple-voltage trainsets, numbered...
set or another Duplex set.
Development history
The Duplex feasibility study was completed in 1987. In 1988, a full-scale mockup was built to gauge customer reactions to the bi-level concept, traditionally associated with commuter and regional rail rather than with high-speed intercity trains. A TGV Sud-EstSNCF TGV Sud-Est
The SNCF TGV Sud-Est or TGV-PSE is a French TGV train built by Alstom and operated by SNCF, the French national railway company. It is a semi-permanently coupled electric multiple unit which operates primarily between Paris and the south-east of France....
trailer was tested in revenue service with the inside furnished to simulate the lower floor of a bi-level arrangement, and later that year another TGV Sud-Est was modified to study the dynamic behavior of a train with a higher center of gravity. Discussions with GEC-Alsthom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
began soon after, and in July 1990 the company won the contract to build the "TGV-2N", as it was then known. The details of the contract were not put in place until early 1991, at which point the official order was made. Since then, technological hurdles have been overcome in a four-year process that led to the first tests of a bi-level trainset in November 1994. Soon after their first run, the first rake of eight trailers was tested at 290 km/h (180 mph) on the Sud-Est line. The trainset was powered by TGV Réseau power cars at the time, as the Duplex power cars were still undergoing development. The first Duplex power car was mated to the bi-level trailers on 21 June 1995.
Innovations
Perhaps the most important innovation is the efficiency of the Duplex design. Comparing an original TGV Sud-Est and a Duplex trainset shows that the double-decker design has improvements in both power-to-weight ratio and the weight-per-seat overhead:| Power-to-weight ratio Power-to-weight ratio Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources... (kW Watt The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:... /tonne) |
Weight/seat (tonne) |
Power/seat (kW) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| TGV Sud-Est | 17 | 1.10 | 18.34 |
| TGV Duplex | 23 | 0.7 | 16.15 |
In this comparison, "power" refers to installed power, not all of which is used when operating.
- Aluminium bodies - the strict requirement of a 17 tonnes (16.7 LT) axle load limit made it imperative to cut down on weight, wherever possible. Extruded aluminum construction (such as used on the German ICEInterCityExpressThe Intercity-Express or ICE is a system of high-speed trains predominantly running in Germany and neighbouring countries. It is the highest service category offered by DB Fernverkehr and is the flagship of Deutsche Bahn...
train) made possible a 20% reduction in the weight of the structure.
- Improved styling and aerodynamics - the nose of the power units and the gap between trailers were improved such that a Duplex train at cruise speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) experiences only 4% more drag than a single-level TGV. The nose, the first significant departure from Cooper's original design, was styled by industrial designer Roger TallonRoger Tallon- Biography :After studying as an engineer , Tallon was employed by Caterpillar France and DuPont. In 1953, he joined Technès, the technical and aesthetic studies office founded in 1949 by the father of industrial aesthetics Jacques Viénot, and Jean Parthenay...
, as was the rest of the trainset.
- Crashworthiness - crush zones and rigid passenger compartments ensure maximum safety in the event of a collision. The power units' frame is designed to take a (steady-state) 500 tonnes (492.1 LT) of force frontal load, and features structural fuses to absorb impact energy.
- Active pantographPantograph (rail)A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
- the Faiveley CX used on the Duplex has a pneumatically actuated active control system. Two small gas cylinders in the wiper armature can tune the stiffness of the pantograph's upper stage, to optimize contact at any speed.
- All wheel disc brakes - earlier TGVs (including EurostarBritish Rail Class 373The British Rail Class 373 or TGV-TMST train is an electric multiple unit that operates Eurostar's high-speed rail service between Britain, France and Belgium via the Channel Tunnel...
) used disc brakes only on unpowered axles. Weight gains on the Duplex power units allowed the installation of disc brakes directly on the wheels of powered axles (so-called "cheek discs"), instead of using the traditional tread brakes. This does not greatly improve braking performance, but it leaves the wheel tread smooth and considerably reduces rolling noise.
- Quiet roof fans - the cooling fans in TGV power units produce the most noticeable sound (a loud hum) when the train is in a station. The fans, located in the roof of the unit, have been redesigned to be quieter.
- World's Fastest Train - In 2007 a short formation TGV Duplex was fitted with distributed traction as used in the future generation AGV (automotrice à grande vitesseAutomotrice à grande vitesseThe Automotrice à grande vitesse ' is an Alstom train intended as the successor to France’s TGV high-speed trains; the name stands for automotrice à grande vitesse, or ‘high-speed self-propelled carriage’...
) setting a new speed record of 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph). (see TGV world speed record#Record of 2007)
Réseau Duplex
Also called Réseau Duplex, they take the serial number 600 (601-619). This version came to existence when the carriages of nineteen TGV-Réseau sets where used to create the TGV POS sets. The Réseau powercars of these sets then, with only some aerodynamic adjustments, joined new Duplex sets. They are the first series of "inter-recoupled series" TGV achieved a sustainable basis by SNCF.In fact, the railways had changed an order for 19 Duplex as follows:
- 19 sets of 8 Duplex-carriages, identical to the original TGV Duplex (Series 200), to be powered by the 38 surplus TGV Réseau powercars.
- 38 new tricourant powercars, based on the Duplex-version, making them suitable for use on networks of Deutsche BahnDeutsche BahnDeutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
and Swiss Federal Railways. These were joined to the nineteen sets of Réseau carriages, renovated by Christian Lacroix, becoming the series "4400" or TGV POS.
They are identical to the whole family "Duplex." It is these that form new motor Duplex Network. Also called "duplex" (with a "small to"), they are the number of 19, numbered from 601 to 619, all connected in Technicentre South-East Europe.
This solution of "tinkering" has allowed the railways to maintain the pace of delivery of Duplex which was considered a priority.
Generation Dasy (49/52)
Dasy is a contraction of Duplex Asynchronous ERTMS.The series has an aesthetic similar to the classic series Duplex, but internal changes have been made.
These trains are rolling the serial number "700". They feature a new powertrain with asynchronous motor of the same type as that of the motor TGV POS, and they also boarded the ERTMS
European Rail Traffic Management System
The European Rail Traffic Management System is an initiative backed by the European Union to enhance cross-border interoperability and signalling procurement by creating a single Europe-wide standard for train control and command systems....
, new system European signaling. The driving of the train 701 were delivered in late 2006 and joined with section 619 Duplex Network (section delivered for processing and network duplex POS) for tests of preproduction. The train was delivered 701 complete on 14/02/2008.
In June 2007, the SNCF has placed a large order to Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
Transport SA 25 Duplex trainsets Dasy additional (+ 3 others 2008). Part of this order is for 55 trains tricourant a new type (high-speed trains and 2 levels (RGV 2N) and a reserve engine, permitting the relationship between France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
or Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Two pre-series trains, currently in testing, should be delivered in late 2010.
These trains will strengthen the connections to the south, including the Perpignan - Figueres, allowing the transit joint Franco-Spanish, completed in February 2009, used from December 2010 to two round trip Paris - Figueres and will be fully opened in 2012 for journeys Paris - Barcelona unchanged. This new infrastructure is innovative in France, because it is designed for high-speed train traffic, AVE and train Freight. It saves huge on travel time. The trains 200 and 600 series will not go to Spain because they are not equipped with ERTMS.
They will also be used on the Rhine-Rhône, which is under construction. This link LGV Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
in Mulhouse
Mulhouse
Mulhouse |mill]] hamlet) is a city and commune in eastern France, close to the Swiss and German borders. With a population of 110,514 and 278,206 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2006, it is the largest city in the Haut-Rhin département, and the second largest in the Alsace region after...
from December 2011.
The interior trim has reams of new colors (blue) and new interior (with electrical outlets at the seat in the 1st and 2nd class), the remaining facilities is very similar to those of duplex and an indicator of the speed of a TGV been installed in the car bar, above the bar.
For future orders SNCF plans to change the appearance of TGV and reflects on what could be the face of the future. Indeed, the very first trains operating today in the Southeast, North and Switzerland are beginning to be old and we consider their replacement by 2015-2020.
Technical data
Build Dates: 1995-1998 (1st batch), 2001-2004 (2nd, 3rd and 4th batches), 2004-2006 (5th batch), 2007-2011 (Duplex "Dasy")Territory: All TGV lines except LGV Est
LGV Est
The LGV Est européenne is an extension to the French high-speed rail network, connecting currently Vaires-sur-Marne and Baudrecourt , and later Vaires-sur-Marne and Vendenheim . , it is the newest high-speed line in France and still under construction, with of a planned in service...
.
Top Speed: 320 km/h (199 mph)
Supply Voltages: , 1.5 kV DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
Traction: 8 3-phase synchronous AC traction motors, 8800 kW under 25 kV supply.
Length and Weight: 200 m (656 ft) / 380 t (374 LT)
Configuration: 1 power car + 8 trailers + 1 power car, 545 seats
Performance Metrics: 23 kW/tonne; 16.15 kW per seat; 0.7 t (0.688942473303479 LT) per seat;
Spotting Features: Bi-level seating, single windshield, rounder nose
Special Notes: Developed to relieve congestion on LGV Sud-Est.
Eurotrain
Eurotrain was a consortium formed by Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
and GEC-Alsthom (today Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
) in 1996 to market high-speed rail technology in Asia. In 1997, it was one of two competitors to supply the core system of Taiwan High Speed Rail
Taiwan High Speed Rail
Taiwan High Speed Rail is a high-speed rail line that runs approximately along the west coast of the Republic of China from the national capital of Taipei to the southern city of Kaohsiung...
(THSR), and was awarded the status of preferred bidder by concessionaire THSRC.
In early 1998, the two companies created a demonstration train by combining cars of three existing French and German high-speed trains: the intermediate cars of TGV Duplex trainset #224 was joined with German Railways
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
ICE 2 powerheads 402 042 and 402 046 at the two ends. On 4 May 1998, the Eurotrain demonstration train made a presentation run on the Hanover–Würzburg high-speed railway in Germany, achieving a maximum speed of 316 km/h (196 mph).
In December 2000, THSRC decided to award the contract to the rival Taiwan Shinkansen Consortium, leading to a legal battle ending in damage payments for Eurotrain in 2004.