TGV POS

TGV POS is a high speed train used by SNCF. POS stands for “Paris - Ostfrankreich - Süddeutschland” (Paris - Eastern France - Southern Germany).

The opening of LGV Est (Eastern high speed line) between Paris, Eastern France, Switzerland and Germany, by 2007 is problematic for SNCF. On the first hand, triple-power locomotives are necessary to go to those destinations. On the other hand, the line won't be crowded enough to use double-deck cars whereas some lines using single-deck TGV Réseau need more capacity. The chosen solution is to transform 19 TGV Réseau units. Locomotives are now used with double-deck cars, increasing the trains'capacity, while single-deck cars are used with new triple-power locomotives forming POS units.

The locomotives aesthetically look like TGV Duplex with their central driving board, although they are equiped with new asynchronous engines, with higher power. Two locomotives were used in the unit “V150” which set a new rail speed world record in April 2007 at 574.8 kmph on LGV Est (Eastern high speed line).

TGV POS are first used only on LGV Est. Then, from 2012, they are used on LGV Rhin-Rhône (a high speed line between East and South-East of France) on “TGV Lyria” service to Switzerland.

TGV POS units are made of eight cars, including a bar car, surrounded by two locomotives. They can be used in multiple units.

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