Fast train in speed record attempt

PARIS – France’s TGV fast train is to make a bid to beat its own world speed record today, amid reports that in recent unofficial tests it reached nearly 570 kilometres an hour.

Weather conditions permitting, a TGV train will be driven during the afternoon along a stretch of the new high-speed line built between Paris and the eastern city of Strasbourg. “Tuesday is the official day.There will be monitors in place, and we’ll see what speed we can hit,” said a representative of the state rail company SNCF.On Saturday Le Parisien newspaper reported that in a recent trial a TGV train travelled at 568 kilometres an hour – well in excess of the 513,3 km/h record which was set by a TGV train in 1990.Nampa-AFP”Tuesday is the official day.There will be monitors in place, and we’ll see what speed we can hit,” said a representative of the state rail company SNCF.On Saturday Le Parisien newspaper reported that in a recent trial a TGV train travelled at 568 kilometres an hour – well in excess of the 513,3 km/h record which was set by a TGV train in 1990.Nampa-AFP