Sophie is one of the oldest French high speed trainset who's running in 2018 ! TGV SE #02 is running on South-East line and first TGV SE #01 is running on North line. Both trainsets (nicknamed Patrick & Sophie, used as radio callsigns during tests before numbered #01 & #02) have been built in 1976/1977 and was delivered on July 28th, 1978 for testing purposes. During test period (to mid of 1980), 15 000 modifications were made on both trainsets to be compliant before delivering others 85 trains of the "TGV Sud-Est" serie. The #03 was delivered at the end of April 1980 and latest was build and delivered in 1985/1986. This trainset have now more than 9 million km, has been renovated 3 times and run every days at 300 KpH ! In February 1981 shortly before the opening of the new High speed Line #1 (LN1 Sud-Est), the TGV SE #16 have make the first high speed train speed world record with 380 km/h (236 mph).
Pictures of French high speed conquest... With all kind of locomotives, trains and infrastructures that participated to improve rail speed and makes the best world records.
