Eurostar spec (anorak alert)

[HoraceCambold]

Seeing another Eurostar flying past me again today while on the A13 I thought I'd have a read up and the technicals make interesting reading. Wikipedia has a lot of info such as capable of working on 3 different voltages using overhead wires or 3rd rail, on 25Kv they develop 16,000 horsepower. They are built to work on British and French tracks which, of course, are different. Interesting fact, one derailed at 140mph and stayed upright and stopped with no injuries due to the carriages using shared bogies.

Does this make me a little strange? lol

[AV12]

Not at all. The Class 373 / TGV is an excellent engineering achievement - although it's basic design is tried and tested. Did you know GNER used to run a few sets on Kings Cross - Leeds services up until a franchise change (I believe)?

Eurostar have apparently ordered a number of Siemens Velaro e320 units with nearly 25,000hp and an operating speed of 199mph. Theoretical maximum speed is 250mph ( depending on configuration).
Eurostar are planning to run to Cologne and Amsterdam - this also ensures type approval for DB ICE3 services from Germany too...

[anonymous-user]

HoraceCambold said:

They are built to work on British and French tracks which, of course, are different

No they're not!

[MitchT]

AV12 said:

Did you know GNER used to run a few sets on Kings Cross - Leeds services up until a franchise change (I believe)?

I certainly know as a travelled on a few of them. I went through a phase of making numerous trips between Leeds and London and experienced these trains in both GNER colours and in Eurostar colours on a regular basis. A friend of mine who's a signalman told me that they were limited to 110mph for some reason. I think they stopped running them some time before the franchise was lost - they were, apparently, standing in so that GNER could increase services from London to Leeds & York while they acquired, refurbished and painted a load of old HSTs which subsequently took over.

[twister]

MitchT said:

A friend of mine who's a signalman told me that they were limited to 110mph for some reason.

IIRC there were problems with the cheap and nasty overhead wiring on the ECML combined with the dual pantograph setup on the GNERostars which meant that running any faster than 110 would cause the wires to vibrate and lose contact with the pantographs. Still, even with that limitation they were rather nice sets to ride on up and down the east coast - shame I had to stick to 91s or HSTs for the trips further north than York...

[Leptons]

How do French and British rails differ?

[Hooli]

Leptons said:

How do French and British rails differ?

They drive on the wrong side

[Rostfritt]

Leptons said:

How do French and British rails differ?

Before High Speed one was built they had to go through Kent on 3rd rail. Since then they have taken off the 3rd rail equipment. The only difference now is the height of the pantograph, which incidentally is the highest in the world when it goes through the tunnel (as it accommodates the double deck car wagons). Other than that there are several signalling systems on it.