France has one of the world’s finest high-speed rail networks. The country’s network of TGVs (or ‘Trains à Grande Vitesse’, as any true train aficionado will no doubt already know) covers pretty much all of France and is an exceptionally fast and convenient way to get around.
But are they resting on their laurels? Mais, non! France’s TGVs are about to get even snazzier, with new ‘TGV M’ trains set to launch in 2024. They will be substantially faster, greener and more spacious than the current models.
TGV Ms will be able to reach a mind-melting top speed of 220 miles per hour – which is about ten percent faster than current models, and even faster than Japan’s current generation of bullet trains. For passengers, that means much shorter journey times. Paris to Saint Raphaël on the French Riviera, for instance, would currently typically take about five hours. The new trains will cut that down to four-and-a-half.
And TGV Ms aren’t just faster than current TGVs: they’re also more energy efficient, promising a 32 percent reduction in CO2 emissions. Plus there’s 20 percent more onboard space.
The new trains will also be quite a bit more luxurious. Manufacturer Alstom says they’ll have superfast onboard Wi-Fi and real-time journey updates, as well as bigger windows – all the better to take in the rolling countryside and France’s prettiest villages as they whizz by.