Britannica AI Icon

Train à Grande Vitesse

French railway system
Also known as: TGV

Quick Summary

The Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) is France's high-speed rail service, operated by the state-owned Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF). Introduced in 1981, the TGV revolutionized rail travel, with its initial Paris to Lyon route covering 265 miles in just two hours at speeds up to 168 miles per hour.1

High-speed rail (HSR) generally refers to trains traveling at least 200 km (124 miles) per hour, with some reaching over 355 km (221 miles) per hour. Japan pioneered HSR with its Shinkansen, or "bullet train," in 1964. Today, HSR networks are common in Asia and Europe, offering a competitive alternative to air travel for distances up to about 1,000 km (620 miles). These systems are desired for their environmental benefits, including reduced fossil fuel consumption and lower emissions.234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.