French Train Smashes World Record Train Speed On Tracks equipped With British Pandrol Fastclip Fastenings
04 April 2007
A French high-speed TGV train has smashed the world record for a train on conventional rails, reaching 574.8km/h (356mph). The previous TGV record was 515km/h (320mph), set in 1990.
The record attempt, using a modified TGV trainset took place on the newly completed TGV Est, between Paris and Strasbourg, which is equipped throughout its route length (in excess of 300km) with PANDROL FASTCLIP fastenings. The speed achieved means that the French train travelled over 1,064 FASTCLIP fastenings per second.
In 2002, RFF/SNCF undertook an evaluation process to compare captive fastening systems against the existing French threaded system. They selected the PANDROL FASTCLIP rail fastening system as the standard for all new track construction and concrete sleeper renewals in France, ahead of the German threaded system, due to its ease of installation using the latest automated track renewal methods, low cost, and practically zero maintence requirements.
The level of automation achieved with the PANDROL FASTCLIP system enabled tracklaying on the new TGV Est to advance at a rate of 600m of double track every day - the requirements for this being over 5,000t of ballast, 2,000 sleepers equipped with 8,000 PANDROL FASTCLIP fasteners and 2,400m of rails.
The PANDROL FASTCLIP system is a resilient, threadless rail fastening system, suitable for application on concrete, steel or timber ties, or slab track. The unique switch on - switch off system enables fast, efficient track installation and reduced maintenance costs.
