British Rail Class 373
Encyclopedia
The 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
. Part of the TGV
family, it has a smaller cross-section to fit within the constrictive British loading gauge
, was originally able to operate on the UK third rail
network, and has extensive fireproofing
in case of fire in the tunnel. This is both the longest—394 metres (1,292.7 ft)—and fastest train in regular UK passenger service.
Known as the TransManche Super Train (Cross-channel Super Train) during development up until start of service in 1993, the train is designated Class 373 under the British TOPS
classification system and as series 373000 TGV in France. It was built by GEC-Alsthom (now Alstom
) at its sites in La Rochelle
(France), Belfort
(France) and Washwood Heath
(UK) and by Brugeoise et Nivelles
(BN, now part of Bombardier) in Brugge
.
Thirty-eight full sets were ordered by the railway companies involved: 16 by SNCF
; four by NMBS/SNCB
; and 18 by British Rail
, of which seven were North of London sets. Upon privatisation of British Rail
by the UK Government, the sets were bought by London and Continental Railways
, which named the subsidiary Eurostar (U.K.) Ltd.
, now managed by a consortium made up of the National Express Group
(40%), SNCF
(35%), SNCB (15%) and British Airways
(10%).
The first Eurostar set was built at Belfort in 1992. Identified as "PS1" (Pre-Series 1), it was formed of just seven coaches and two power cars, and was delivered for test running in January 1993. Its first powered runs were between Strasbourg and Mulhouse, and it was transferred to the UK for third-rail DC
tests in June 1993. A second, full-length, pre-series train PS2 was completed in May 1993.
One extra power car, numbered 3999, was built as a spare for use in the event of another power car being damaged or destroyed. This was required for a couple of years, when 3999 was renumbered and replaced another power car whilst it underwent rebuilding at Le Landy. It is usually held at Temple Mills depot in London.
shoes planned for the Class 373 units on the Southern Region lines in Great Britain, an eight vehicle locomotive hauled train was formed and used in early 1994. This consisted of a Class 73
locomotive, a converted Class 33
locomotive acting as a Driving Brake Van (classified as NZ under TOPS), and six carriages from three Class 438 (4TC)
multiple unit sets, 8007, 8023 and 8028.
. The grey-yellow look (in Standard class) and the grey-red look (in First class) have been replaced with a more grey-brown look in Standard, and a grey-burnt orange in First class.
In 2008, Eurostar announced that it was beginning the process to institute a mid-life update of its Class 373 trains. This process will take in the 28 units making up the Eurostar fleet, but will not include those units used exclusively in France by SNCF. As a part of the update process, the Italian company Pininfarina
has been contracted to redesign the interiors; the first refurbished Eurostar is not due in service until 2012. The refurbishment could also include an engine maintenance and a new livery. Eurostar plans for the entire process to be complete by 2014, allowing the fleet to remain in service beyond 2020.
adjacent to the Great Western Main Line
in west London, to Temple Mills depot near Stratford International in east London. This is where the unused spare power car is stored. In France the trains are maintained at Le Landy depot in northern Paris, and in Belgium at Brussels Forest/Vorst depot.
The bulk of the fleet's operations are on Eurostar's core routes from London St Pancras
to Paris Gare du Nord
and Brussels South . A daily return service operates between London and Disneyland Paris. At particular times of the year, sets equipped for operation on French lignes classiques (classic lines) operate to Avignon Centre (summer only) or on "ski-train" services to Bourg-Saint-Maurice
(winter time only).
The trains can operate at up to 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph) on high-speed lines and 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph) in the Channel Tunnel; there is an automatic application of the brakes if the speed exceeds 315 kilometres per hour (196 mph), or 170 kilometres per hour (106 mph) when the pantograph is in the tunnel setting. Speeds within the Channel Tunnel are dictated by air resistance, energy (heat) dissipation and the need to fit in with other train services operating at lower speeds.
Three of the Three Capitals sets owned by SNCF are in French domestic use on the TGV
network, mainly operating services between Paris and Lille
and currently carrying a variation on the standard silver and blue TGV livery. These sets were originally built to the same specification as the rest of the fleet, which saw them initially used on international services as well as French domestic routes. Later, the third rail pick up shoes and yellow front warning panels were removed. In 2007, SNCF enhanced their fleet by leasing six and a half of the seven redundant North of London sets, with one half-set remaining with Eurostar. The North of London sets were originally intended to provide direct Regional Eurostar
services from Continental Europe to and from UK cities north of London, using the West Coast Main Line
and the East Coast Main Line
. These never came to fruition because of long proposed journey times, and the proliferation of budget airlines offering lower fares. There were also issues with the relatively crude design of British Rail
overhead lines and the logistics of getting the trains across London. SNCF's lease of the sets is scheduled to last until 2011, with an option for a further two years.
Five of the North of London sets were leased to GNER in 2000 to provide additional capacity on its routes from London King's Cross. The units were utilised on its White Rose titled services to York
, and later to Leeds
. These were stripped of their Eurostar markings, two sporting a mostly-white livery, with three sets in the pool receiving full-length GNER-style deep-navy vinyl wraps. On rare occasions sets were formed of both a GNER and an unbranded Eurostar halfset. The lease ended in December 2005, after which they were returned to Eurostar. Due to limitations in the power supply on the East Coast Main Line the units were barred from operating at times of peak electrical demand. The trains were restricted to run between King's Cross and York
and later to Leeds because the sets comprised 14 coaches and those three stations (including intermediate stations served by the units between the sectors) had platforms long enough to handle the extra length. Also the units were restricted to 110 mph (177 km/h).
Each power car has a four-digit number starting with "3" (3xxx). This designates the train as a Mark 3 TGV (Mark 1 being SNCF TGV Sud-Est
; Mark 2 being SNCF TGV Atlantique
). The second digit denotes the country of ownership:
Each half-set is numbered separately:
Each full trainset is formed of two power cars and eighteen coaches, ordered as shown in the table below:
When built, all train sets were tri-voltage
, being able to operate on (LGVs, Eurotunnel
, High Speed 1, UK overhead electrified lines
) and 3 kV DC (Belgian classic lines) using pantographs
and 750 V DC (UK third rail
network) using third-rail pickup shoes. The shoes were retracted when operating from overhead power and prototypes were used for testing. After the opening of High Speed 1, overhead electricity is available throughout the core network between London
and Paris
/ Brussels
and the third rail shoes became redundant and were removed. The railway links to the new London-based depot facilities at Temple Mills and to the East Coast Main Line and West-Coast Main Line are 25 kV overhead. Five of the SNCF-owned sets are quadri-voltage, being able to operate from 1,500 V DC (French lignes classiques) in the south of France; these sets are used for London–Avignon and ski services.
British-designed asynchronous traction motor
s are used. There are four powered axles in each power car and one additional bogie in the adjacent passenger carriage. This layout was also used on the original SNCF TGV Sud-Est
(PSE) sets. The six powered bogies therefore contain a total of twelve powered axles to haul the rake of eighteen carriages. Drawing up to 12 MW of power, the train has the lowest power-to-weight ratio
of any train in the TGV family—a SNCF TGV Réseau
set has eight powered axles but is only required to haul eight passenger carriages.
The train design is able to cope with five different standards of overhead lines
: domestic catenary in each of Belgium, France and the United Kingdom; fixed-height catenary for the LGV
lines and the taller catenary used within the Channel Tunnel
. The Eurotunnel catenary is much higher as the tunnel is designed to accommodate the double-deck car-carrying trains and roll-on roll-off heavy goods vehicle trains. The train driver is required to lower and then raise the pantograph during the change from each catenary system.
At high speed, the driver is considered to be unable to see line side signals reliably and to be able to respond accordingly. With the TVM signalling used on the high-speed lines, the target speed for the end of the current block is displayed, along with a flashing indication for the next block if it is a different speed. In addition, auxiliary signalling information is transmitted, including the location of neutral sections in the overhead supply and pantograph adjustment zones. This extra information is displayed in cab as well as by the line side. The operation of a Eurostar's circuit breakers over the neutral sections is handled automatically on the TVM-signalled lines only, but the pantograph adjustments must always be performed by the driver.
s which are shared between adjacent carriages, supporting both of them. However, the power cars at each end of the train and the two central trailers (coaches 9 and 10 in a full-length set) rest partially or fully on their own bogie
s. Across the non-shared bogies, the set is coupled together using a Scharfenberg coupler, providing three points for easy separation in the event of an emergency in the Channel Tunnel
. The electrical supply cables between a power-car and the first carriage are designed to break apart during an emergency separation of the train. In the event of a serious fire on board while travelling through the Tunnel, the passengers would be transferred into the undamaged half of the train, which would then be uncoupled from the damaged half and driven out of the tunnel to safety. If the undamaged part is the rear half of the train, this would be driven by the who is a fully authorised driver and occupies the rear driving cab while the train travels through the tunnel for this purpose. In fact, due to limitations on driving hours, once the train has reached its destination, the driver and Chef du Train exchange roles for the return journey.
The articulated
design is advantageous during a derailment as the passenger carriages will tend to stay aligned in the event of a derailment. On non-articulated trains, by contrast, coupling
s may split and the carriages may jackknife
. A disadvantage of articulation is that it is difficult to remove individual carriages for maintenance. While the power cars can be separated from trains via standard uncoupling procedures, specialised depot equipment is needed to split carriages by lifting the entire train at once. Once uncoupled, one of the carriage ends is left without a bogie at the split, so a bogie frame is required to support it.
:
The combined effect of the three braking systems can bring a train travelling at 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph) to a complete standstill in 65 seconds, during which time the train covers about 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi)
high-speed line while travelling at a speed of 290 km/h (180 mph). Fourteen people were treated for light injuries or shock, with no major injures or fatalities. The articulated nature of the trainset was credited with maintaining stability during the incident and all of the train stayed upright. After investigation, the incident was blamed on a component of the transmission system between the electric motors and axles coming loose. To reduce the unsprung mass, TGV-style trains have the motors attached to the train rather than the bogie
s. In order for the train to still be able to go around curves, an extra sliding "tripod" assembly is used, which is what became dislodged.
There have been several minor incidents with a few Eurostar services. In October 1994, there were teething problems relating to the start of operations. The first preview train, carrying 400 members of the press and media, was delayed for two hours owing to technical issues. On 29 May 2002 a Eurostar train was initially sent down a wrong line—towards London Victoria railway station instead of London Waterloo—causing the service to arrive 25 minutes late. A signalling error that lead to the incorrect routeing was stated to have caused "no risk" as a result.
Section 1, Eurostar 3313/14 set a new British rail speed record
of 334.7 kilometres per hour (208 mph), breaking the previous-held record of 259.5 kilometres per hour (161.2 mph) set by an Advanced Passenger Train
on 20 December 1979.
On 16 May 2006 a Eurostar set a new record for the longest non-stop high speed journey, when set 3209/10 made the 1421 kilometres (883 mi) journey from London
to Cannes
in 7 hours 25 minutes. This was a result of Eurostar's partnership with the Da Vinci Code film. The train carried stars Tom Hanks
, Audrey Tautou
and director Ron Howard
, who had jointly named the train The Da Vinci Code prior to departing London on its way to the film
premiere
at the Cannes Film Festival
.
On 4 September 2007 the first revenue Eurostar
train to use the new Channel Tunnel Rail Link
to St Pancras railway station
set a new speed record for rail travel between London
and Paris
. The first train left Paris at 09:44 BST
and arrived at St. Pancras two hours, three minutes and 39 seconds later. Officials aboard the inaugural train recorded speeds of up to 325 kilometres per hour (202 mph) in France
and 314 kilometres per hour (195 mph) in Britain.
for the Railfest 200 celebrations in 2004.
To celebrate ten years of the Eurostar service in operation, a barge was floated down the River Thames
in London on 16 November 2004, with a power car onboard, that had been specially painted by Ben Langlands and Nikki Bell
. Named "Language of Places on Eurostar" by Langlands and Bell, the artwork piece consisted of the three-letter "destination codes for all the places Eurostar goes to or connects to". The barge's voyage took it under Tower Bridge
, past the Houses of Parliament and was moored for a period beside the museum-warship HMS Belfast.
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
that operates Eurostar's
Eurostar
Eurostar is a high-speed railway service connecting London with Paris and Brussels. All its trains traverse the Channel Tunnel between England and France, owned and operated separately by Eurotunnel....
high-speed rail
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...
service between Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, 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 Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
via the Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
. Part 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, it has a smaller cross-section to fit within the constrictive British loading gauge
Loading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
, was originally able to operate on the UK third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
network, and has extensive fireproofing
Fireproofing
Fireproofing, a passive fire protection measure, refers to the act of making materials or structures more resistant to fire, or to those materials themselves, or the act of applying such materials. Applying a certification listed fireproofing system to certain structures allows these to have a...
in case of fire in the tunnel. This is both the longest—394 metres (1,292.7 ft)—and fastest train in regular UK passenger service.
Known as the TransManche Super Train (Cross-channel Super Train) during development up until start of service in 1993, the train is designated Class 373 under the British TOPS
TOPS
Total Operations Processing System, or TOPS, is a computer system for managing the locomotives and rolling stock owned by a rail system...
classification system and as series 373000 TGV in France. It was built by GEC-Alsthom (now 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...
) at its sites in La Rochelle
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
(France), Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
(France) and Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath is a ward in Birmingham, within the formal district of Hodge Hill, roughly two miles north-east of Birmingham city centre, England...
(UK) and by Brugeoise et Nivelles
La Brugeoise et Nivelles SA.
La Brugeoise et Nivelles SA , later BN Constructions Ferroviaries et Métalliques was a Belgian manufacturer of railway locomotives and other rolling stock; it was formed by a merger of two companies La Brugeoise et Nicaise et Delcuve and Les Ateliers Métallurgiques de Nivelles.The Bruges factory...
(BN, now part of Bombardier) in Brugge
Brügge
Brügge is a municipality in the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.Its small church and market square are noted for their beauty....
.
Development and construction
Two types were constructed:- Thirty-one "Three Capitals" sets consisting of two power carPower carA power car is a railroad vehicle that is closely related to the locomotive. What differentiates the two is their construction or their use. A true locomotive can be physically separated from its train and does nothing but provide propulsion . A power car, on the other hand, is frequently an...
s and 18 carriages, including two with powered bogies. These trains are 394 metres (1,292.7 ft) long and can carry 750 passengers; 206 in first class, 544 in standard class. - Seven shorter "North of London" trains which have 14 carriages and are 320 metres (1,049.9 ft) in length. These still include two carriages with powered bogies, resulting in a higher power-to-weight-ratio. These sets have a capacity of 558 seats; 114 in first class, 444 in standard class). These were designed to operate the proposed Regional EurostarRegional EurostarRegional Eurostar was the name given to plans to operate Eurostar train services from Paris and Brussels to locations in the United Kingdom beyond London...
services.
Thirty-eight full sets were ordered by the railway companies involved: 16 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...
; four by NMBS/SNCB
NMBS/SNCB
The National Railway Company of Belgium, known as the or the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges is the Belgian national railway operator.It is usually referred to in English as "Belgian Railways" or the SNCB....
; and 18 by British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
, of which seven were North of London sets. Upon privatisation of British Rail
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
by the UK Government, the sets were bought by London and Continental Railways
London and Continental Railways
-History:Created at the time of the privatisation of British Rail it bid for and won the contract from the UK government in 1996 to build and operate High Speed 1 between London and the Channel Tunnel...
, which named the subsidiary Eurostar (U.K.) Ltd.
Eurostar (U.K.) Ltd.
Eurostar International Limited is the operator of the Eurostar service operating between London, Paris and Brussels. It was formed on 1 September 2010 and is owned by London and Continental Railways , NMBS/SNCB and SNCF...
, now managed by a consortium made up of the National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
(40%), 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...
(35%), SNCB (15%) and British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
(10%).
The first Eurostar set was built at Belfort in 1992. Identified as "PS1" (Pre-Series 1), it was formed of just seven coaches and two power cars, and was delivered for test running in January 1993. Its first powered runs were between Strasbourg and Mulhouse, and it was transferred to the UK for third-rail 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...
tests in June 1993. A second, full-length, pre-series train PS2 was completed in May 1993.
One extra power car, numbered 3999, was built as a spare for use in the event of another power car being damaged or destroyed. This was required for a couple of years, when 3999 was renumbered and replaced another power car whilst it underwent rebuilding at Le Landy. It is usually held at Temple Mills depot in London.
Third rail test train
To test the third railThird rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
shoes planned for the Class 373 units on the Southern Region lines in Great Britain, an eight vehicle locomotive hauled train was formed and used in early 1994. This consisted of a Class 73
British Rail Class 73
The British Rail Class 73 is a United Kingdom model of electro-diesel locomotive. The type is unusual in that it can operate from a 750 V DC third-rail or an on-board diesel engine to allow it to operate on non-electrified routes...
locomotive, a converted Class 33
British Rail Class 33
The British Rail Class 33 also known as the BRCW Type 3 or Crompton is a class of Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives ordered in 1957 and built for the Southern Region of British Railways between 1960 and 1962....
locomotive acting as a Driving Brake Van (classified as NZ under TOPS), and six carriages from three Class 438 (4TC)
British Rail Class 438
The British Rail TC multiple units were un-powered fixed formations of 3 or 4 carriages with a driving position at each end of the set, converted by BR at York Works from locomotive-hauled Mark 1 carriages in 1966-1967 and 1974. The units built on experience gained from the prototype 6TC unit...
multiple unit sets, 8007, 8023 and 8028.
- Formation
- Class 73 - 73205
- Class 33 (NZ) - 33115
- Class 438 DTSO - 76281
- Class 438 TFK - 70850
- Class 438 TFK - 70871
- Class 438 TFK - 70866
- Class 438 TBSK - 70818
- Class 438 DTSO - 76282
Mid-life update
The 27 sets operating on Eurostar's routes were refurbished in 2004/2005 with a new interior, designed by Philippe StarckPhilippe Starck
Philippe Patrick Starck is a French product designer and probably the best known designer in the New Design style...
. The grey-yellow look (in Standard class) and the grey-red look (in First class) have been replaced with a more grey-brown look in Standard, and a grey-burnt orange in First class.
In 2008, Eurostar announced that it was beginning the process to institute a mid-life update of its Class 373 trains. This process will take in the 28 units making up the Eurostar fleet, but will not include those units used exclusively in France by SNCF. As a part of the update process, the Italian company Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
has been contracted to redesign the interiors; the first refurbished Eurostar is not due in service until 2012. The refurbishment could also include an engine maintenance and a new livery. Eurostar plans for the entire process to be complete by 2014, allowing the fleet to remain in service beyond 2020.
Maintenance
Maintenance of the fleet is carried out at depots close to the three capital cities. With the opening of High Speed 1 on 14 November 2007, the depot for London was changed from North Pole International depotNorth Pole depot
North Pole depot was the London depot for Eurostar from 1994 until 2007. It was used for maintaining and stabling the fleet of British Rail Class 373 trains...
adjacent to the Great Western Main Line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
in west London, to Temple Mills depot near Stratford International in east London. This is where the unused spare power car is stored. In France the trains are maintained at Le Landy depot in northern Paris, and in Belgium at Brussels Forest/Vorst depot.
Eurostar
The bulk of the fleet's operations are on Eurostar's core routes from London St Pancras
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
to Paris Gare du Nord
Gare du Nord
Paris Nord is one of the six large terminus railway stations of the SNCF mainline network for Paris, France. It offers connections with several urban transportation lines, including Paris Métro and RER...
and Brussels South . A daily return service operates between London and Disneyland Paris. At particular times of the year, sets equipped for operation on French lignes classiques (classic lines) operate to Avignon Centre (summer only) or on "ski-train" services to Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Bourg-Saint-Maurice, popularly known as Bourg, is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is the last large town along the Tarentaise valley in the heart of the French Alps.-History:...
(winter time only).
The trains can operate at up to 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph) on high-speed lines and 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph) in the Channel Tunnel; there is an automatic application of the brakes if the speed exceeds 315 kilometres per hour (196 mph), or 170 kilometres per hour (106 mph) when the pantograph is in the tunnel setting. Speeds within the Channel Tunnel are dictated by air resistance, energy (heat) dissipation and the need to fit in with other train services operating at lower speeds.
SNCF
Three of the Three Capitals sets owned by SNCF are in French domestic use on 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....
network, mainly operating services between Paris and Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
and currently carrying a variation on the standard silver and blue TGV livery. These sets were originally built to the same specification as the rest of the fleet, which saw them initially used on international services as well as French domestic routes. Later, the third rail pick up shoes and yellow front warning panels were removed. In 2007, SNCF enhanced their fleet by leasing six and a half of the seven redundant North of London sets, with one half-set remaining with Eurostar. The North of London sets were originally intended to provide direct Regional Eurostar
Regional Eurostar
Regional Eurostar was the name given to plans to operate Eurostar train services from Paris and Brussels to locations in the United Kingdom beyond London...
services from Continental Europe to and from UK cities north of London, using the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
and the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
. These never came to fruition because of long proposed journey times, and the proliferation of budget airlines offering lower fares. There were also issues with the relatively crude design of British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
overhead lines and the logistics of getting the trains across London. SNCF's lease of the sets is scheduled to last until 2011, with an option for a further two years.
GNER
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, and later to Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. These were stripped of their Eurostar markings, two sporting a mostly-white livery, with three sets in the pool receiving full-length GNER-style deep-navy vinyl wraps. On rare occasions sets were formed of both a GNER and an unbranded Eurostar halfset. The lease ended in December 2005, after which they were returned to Eurostar. Due to limitations in the power supply on the East Coast Main Line the units were barred from operating at times of peak electrical demand. The trains were restricted to run between King's Cross and York
York railway station
York railway station is a main-line railway station in the city of York, England. It lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London's King's Cross station towards Edinburgh's Waverley Station...
and later to Leeds because the sets comprised 14 coaches and those three stations (including intermediate stations served by the units between the sectors) had platforms long enough to handle the extra length. Also the units were restricted to 110 mph (177 km/h).
Fleet details
SNCF 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....
; Mark 2 being SNCF TGV Atlantique
SNCF TGV Atlantique
The TGV Atlantique is a class of high-speed trains used in France by SNCF; they were built by Alstom between 1988 and 1992, and were the second generation of TGV trains, following on from the TGV Sud-Est....
). The second digit denotes the country of ownership:
- 30xx UK
- 31xx Belgium
- 32xx France
- 33xx Regional Eurostar
Each half-set is numbered separately:
| Class | No. built | Unit numbers | Cars per half-setincluding power car. | Description | Operators | Current units | Services operated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 373/1 | 22 | 3001–3022 | 10 | BR British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... sets |
Eurostar | 3001–3022 | London-Paris, London-Brussels, London-Disneyland, London-Avignon, London-AlpsAvignon and Alps ski-train services are worked by SNCF quad-voltage capable sets. |
| 8 | 3101–3108 | 10 | SNCB sets | 3101–3108 | |||
| 32 | 3201–3232 | 10 | 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... sets |
3201/02/05-24/29–32 | |||
| SNCF | 3203/04/25/26/27/28 | French domestic | |||||
| Class 373/2 | 14 | 3301–3314 | 8 | BR's NoL sets | 3301–14 | ||
| Spare | 1 | 3999 | 1 | Spare power car only | Eurostar | 3999 | Currently stored at Temple Mills Depot |
Each full trainset is formed of two power cars and eighteen coaches, ordered as shown in the table below:
| Vehicle numbers | Coach | Description | Seating | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | Toilets | Baby changing | |||
| Power car | ||||||
| 1 | Standard class | - | 48 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2 | Standard class | - | 56 | 1 | - | |
| 3 | Standard class | - | 56 | 2 | - | |
| 4 | Standard class | - | 56 | 1 | - | |
| 5 | Standard class | - | 56 | 2 | - | |
| 6 | Bar-Buffet | - | - | - | - | |
| 7 | Standard Premier/Business Premier | 39 | - | 1 | - | |
| 8 | Standard Premier/Business Premier | 39 | - | 1 | - | |
| 9 | Standard Premier/Business Premier | 25 | - | 1(D) | - | |
| 10 | Standard Premier/Business Premier | 25 | - | 1(D) | - | |
| 11 | Standard Premier/Business Premier | 39 | - | 1 | - | |
| 12 | Standard Premier/Business Premier | 39 | - | 1 | - | |
| 13 | Bar-Buffet | - | - | - | - | |
| 14 | Standard class | - | 56 | 2 | - | |
| 15 | Standard class | - | 56 | 1 | - | |
| 16 | Standard class | - | 56 | 2 | - | |
| 17 | Standard class | - | 56 | 1 | - | |
| 18 | Standard class | - | 48 | 1 | 1 | |
| Power car | ||||||
Power
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
, being able to operate on (LGVs, Eurotunnel
Eurotunnel
Groupe Eurotunnel S.A. manages and operates the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France. The Company operates the car shuttle services and earns revenue on other trains passing through the tunnel...
, High Speed 1, UK overhead electrified lines
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
) and 3 kV DC (Belgian classic lines) using pantographs
Pantograph (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...
and 750 V DC (UK third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
network) using third-rail pickup shoes. The shoes were retracted when operating from overhead power and prototypes were used for testing. After the opening of High Speed 1, overhead electricity is available throughout the core network between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and 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...
/ Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and the third rail shoes became redundant and were removed. The railway links to the new London-based depot facilities at Temple Mills and to the East Coast Main Line and West-Coast Main Line are 25 kV overhead. Five of the SNCF-owned sets are quadri-voltage, being able to operate from 1,500 V DC (French lignes classiques) in the south of France; these sets are used for London–Avignon and ski services.
British-designed asynchronous traction motor
Traction motor
Traction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
s are used. There are four powered axles in each power car and one additional bogie in the adjacent passenger carriage. This layout was also used on the original SNCF TGV Sud-Est
SNCF 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....
(PSE) sets. The six powered bogies therefore contain a total of twelve powered axles to haul the rake of eighteen carriages. Drawing up to 12 MW of power, the train has the lowest 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...
of any train in the TGV family—a SNCF TGV 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 has eight powered axles but is only required to haul eight passenger carriages.
The train design is able to cope with five different standards of overhead lines
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
: domestic catenary in each of Belgium, France and the United Kingdom; fixed-height catenary for the LGV
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...
lines and the taller catenary used within the Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
. The Eurotunnel catenary is much higher as the tunnel is designed to accommodate the double-deck car-carrying trains and roll-on roll-off heavy goods vehicle trains. The train driver is required to lower and then raise the pantograph during the change from each catenary system.
Signalling systems
The trains must be fitted with the signalling systems used in all regions of operation, leading to a cluttered control desk in the driver's cab. These include- Automatic Warning SystemAutomatic Warning SystemThe Automatic Warning System is a form of limited cab signalling and train protection system introduced in 1956 in the United Kingdom to help train drivers observe and obey signals. It was based on a 1930 system developed by Alfred Ernest Hudd and marketed as the "Strowger-Hudd" system...
, the BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
signalling system (induction based), used in the Ashford International area - Train Protection & Warning System, the warning system which supplements AWS, used in the Ashford International area
- Transmission Voie-Machine (TVM), used on lignes à grande vitesse, on the Eurotunnel tracks, and on High Speed 1.
- Contrôle de vitesse par balisesContrôle de vitesse par balisesKVB or Contrôle de Vitesse par Balises is a train protection system used on the French railways and in London St Pancras station...
, the system used between Paris Gare du Nord and the LGV NordLGV NordThe LGV Nord is a French 333-kilometre long high speed rail line, opened in 1993, that connects Paris to the Belgian border and the Channel Tunnel via Lille....
, on other French lignes classiques and HS1-connected throat around St. Pancras. The system is electro-mechanical with fixed radio beacons. - TBL, the BelgianBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
signalling system (electro-mechanical), used between Brussels-South and HSL 1HSL 1The HSL 1 is a Belgian high speed rail line which connects Brussels with LGV Nord at the border with France. It is long with 71 km of dedicated high-speed tracks and 17 km of modernised lines. Service began on 14 December 1997....
At high speed, the driver is considered to be unable to see line side signals reliably and to be able to respond accordingly. With the TVM signalling used on the high-speed lines, the target speed for the end of the current block is displayed, along with a flashing indication for the next block if it is a different speed. In addition, auxiliary signalling information is transmitted, including the location of neutral sections in the overhead supply and pantograph adjustment zones. This extra information is displayed in cab as well as by the line side. The operation of a Eurostar's circuit breakers over the neutral sections is handled automatically on the TVM-signalled lines only, but the pantograph adjustments must always be performed by the driver.
Bogies and couplings
The trains were designed with Channel Tunnel safety in mind, and consist of two independent "half-sets", each with its own power car. Most of the trailers rest on Jacobs bogieJacobs bogie
Jacobs bogies are a type of rail vehicle bogie commonly found on articulated railcars and tramway vehicles....
s which are shared between adjacent carriages, supporting both of them. However, the power cars at each end of the train and the two central trailers (coaches 9 and 10 in a full-length set) rest partially or fully on their own bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
s. Across the non-shared bogies, the set is coupled together using a Scharfenberg coupler, providing three points for easy separation in the event of an emergency in the Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
. The electrical supply cables between a power-car and the first carriage are designed to break apart during an emergency separation of the train. In the event of a serious fire on board while travelling through the Tunnel, the passengers would be transferred into the undamaged half of the train, which would then be uncoupled from the damaged half and driven out of the tunnel to safety. If the undamaged part is the rear half of the train, this would be driven by the who is a fully authorised driver and occupies the rear driving cab while the train travels through the tunnel for this purpose. In fact, due to limitations on driving hours, once the train has reached its destination, the driver and Chef du Train exchange roles for the return journey.
The articulated
Articulated car
Articulated cars are rail vehicles which are consist of a number of smaller, lighter cars which are semi-permanently attached to each other and which share common trucks. They are much longer than single passenger cars, and on the TGV Réseau, for example, 8 cars are joined this way...
design is advantageous during a derailment as the passenger carriages will tend to stay aligned in the event of a derailment. On non-articulated trains, by contrast, coupling
Coupling (railway)
A coupling is a mechanism for connecting rolling stock in a train. The design of the coupler is standard, and is almost as important as the railway gauge, since flexibility and convenience are maximised if all rolling stock can be coupled together.The equipment that connects the couplings to the...
s may split and the carriages may jackknife
Jackknifing
Jackknifing means the folding of an articulated vehicle such that it resembles the acute angle of a folding pocket knife. If a vehicle towing a trailer skids, the trailer can push it from behind until it spins round and faces backwards. This may be caused by equipment failure, improper braking, or...
. A disadvantage of articulation is that it is difficult to remove individual carriages for maintenance. While the power cars can be separated from trains via standard uncoupling procedures, specialised depot equipment is needed to split carriages by lifting the entire train at once. Once uncoupled, one of the carriage ends is left without a bogie at the split, so a bogie frame is required to support it.
Braking systems
The train has three braking systemsBrake
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....
:
- The twelve motors can provide rheostatic brakingDynamic brakingDynamic braking is the use of the electric traction motors of a railroad vehicle as generators when slowing the Locomotive. It is termed rheostatic if the generated electrical power is dissipated as heat in brake grid resistors, and regenerative if the power is returned to the supply line...
. - All non-powered axles have four disc brakeDisc brakeThe disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s on them. - Both power cars and the powered axles on the adjacent (powered) trailer have wheel brakes capable of operating directly on the wheels.
The combined effect of the three braking systems can bring a train travelling at 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph) to a complete standstill in 65 seconds, during which time the train covers about 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi)
Miscellaneous
In order to combat the hypnotic effect of driving through a tunnel at speed for 20 minutes, the power cars have only a very small windshield/screen when compared to other high-speed trains and TGV models.Accidents and incidents
, there has only been one major accident involving a service operated by Eurostar. On 5 June 2000, a Eurostar train travelling from Paris to London derailed on the LGV NordLGV Nord
The LGV Nord is a French 333-kilometre long high speed rail line, opened in 1993, that connects Paris to the Belgian border and the Channel Tunnel via Lille....
high-speed line while travelling at a speed of 290 km/h (180 mph). Fourteen people were treated for light injuries or shock, with no major injures or fatalities. The articulated nature of the trainset was credited with maintaining stability during the incident and all of the train stayed upright. After investigation, the incident was blamed on a component of the transmission system between the electric motors and axles coming loose. To reduce the unsprung mass, TGV-style trains have the motors attached to the train rather than the bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
s. In order for the train to still be able to go around curves, an extra sliding "tripod" assembly is used, which is what became dislodged.
There have been several minor incidents with a few Eurostar services. In October 1994, there were teething problems relating to the start of operations. The first preview train, carrying 400 members of the press and media, was delayed for two hours owing to technical issues. On 29 May 2002 a Eurostar train was initially sent down a wrong line—towards London Victoria railway station instead of London Waterloo—causing the service to arrive 25 minutes late. A signalling error that lead to the incorrect routeing was stated to have caused "no risk" as a result.
Record runs
On 30 July 2003, on the opening press run of the Channel Tunnel Rail LinkChannel Tunnel Rail Link
High Speed 1 , officially known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and originally as the Continental Main Line , is a high-speed railway line running from London through Kent to the British end of the Channel Tunnel.The line was built to carry international passenger traffic from the United Kingdom...
Section 1, Eurostar 3313/14 set a new British rail speed record
Land speed record for railed vehicles
Determination of the fastest rail vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of "rail".Official absolute world record for conventional train is held by the French TGV...
of 334.7 kilometres per hour (208 mph), breaking the previous-held record of 259.5 kilometres per hour (161.2 mph) set by an Advanced Passenger Train
Advanced Passenger Train
The Advanced Passenger Train was an experimental tilting High Speed Train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s....
on 20 December 1979.
On 16 May 2006 a Eurostar set a new record for the longest non-stop high speed journey, when set 3209/10 made the 1421 kilometres (883 mi) journey from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
in 7 hours 25 minutes. This was a result of Eurostar's partnership with the Da Vinci Code film. The train carried stars Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
, Audrey Tautou
Audrey Tautou
Audrey Justine Tautou is a French model and film actress, best known for playing the title character in the award-winning 2001 film Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, Sophie Neveu in the 2006 thriller The Da Vinci Code, Irène in Priceless and Coco Chanel in Coco avant Chanel...
and director Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
, who had jointly named the train The Da Vinci Code prior to departing London on its way to the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
On 4 September 2007 the first revenue Eurostar
Eurostar
Eurostar is a high-speed railway service connecting London with Paris and Brussels. All its trains traverse the Channel Tunnel between England and France, owned and operated separately by Eurotunnel....
train to use the new Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Channel Tunnel Rail Link
High Speed 1 , officially known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and originally as the Continental Main Line , is a high-speed railway line running from London through Kent to the British end of the Channel Tunnel.The line was built to carry international passenger traffic from the United Kingdom...
to St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
set a new speed record for rail travel between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and 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...
. The first train left Paris at 09:44 BST
British Summer Time
Western European Summer Time is a summer daylight saving time scheme, 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used in the following places:* the Canary Islands* Portugal * Ireland...
and arrived at St. Pancras two hours, three minutes and 39 seconds later. Officials aboard the inaugural train recorded speeds of up to 325 kilometres per hour (202 mph) in 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 314 kilometres per hour (195 mph) in Britain.
Exhibitions
On several occasions, Class 373 power cars and sets have appeared at special events and displays on behalf of Eurostar; such as at Rotterdam Centraal Station on 6 April 1996, Berlin-Grunewald station for Eurailspeed 1998, Madrid Chamartín railway station for Eurorailspeed 2002 and at the York National Railway MuseumNational Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
for the Railfest 200 celebrations in 2004.
To celebrate ten years of the Eurostar service in operation, a barge was floated down the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in London on 16 November 2004, with a power car onboard, that had been specially painted by Ben Langlands and Nikki Bell
Langlands and Bell
Langlands & Bell, are two fine artists who work collaboratively as a duo; the two, Ben Langlands and Nikki Bell , began collaborating in 1978, while studying Fine Art at Middlesex Polytechnic in North London, from 1977 to 1980.-Artistic practice and career:Their artistic practice ranges from...
. Named "Language of Places on Eurostar" by Langlands and Bell, the artwork piece consisted of the three-letter "destination codes for all the places Eurostar goes to or connects to". The barge's voyage took it under Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name...
, past the Houses of Parliament and was moored for a period beside the museum-warship HMS Belfast.