TRAIN CONTROL ON FRENCH RAILROADS

The French National Railways' (SNCF's) first high-speed line has been in service between Paris and Lyon for 10 years now. A second high-speed line came into revenue service in September 1989, bringing with it substantial improvements to passenger services to the west and southwest of France. At the same time, SNCF is engaged in construction work for the Northern Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV) line, which will link Paris, Brussels, and London via the Channel Tunnel in less than 2 years' time. A loop line around the eastern outskirts of Paris will link the Northern and Southeast high-speed lines. The Southeast high-speed line will be extended southward (initially as far as Valence). High-speed electric multiple units (emus) will be operated on the new lines at 300 km/hr (187 mph), whereas train speed on the Southeast high-speed line is currently limited to 270 km/hr (168 mph).