SNCF TGV La Poste

The TGV La Poste were dedicated trainsets for high-speed freight and mail transportation by French railway company SNCF on behalf of the French postal carrier La Poste. The top speed of this TGV Sud-Est derivate was 270 km/h (168 mph), making them the fastest freight trains in the world. ^{[citation needed]} They were withdrawn in 2015.^[1]

TGV La Poste
TGV La Poste trainset
In service	1984- 27 June 2015[1]
Manufacturer	GEC-Alsthom
Family name	TGV
Number built	2+1⁄2 (new) + 1 (converted)
Number preserved	3 + 1⁄2 spare set
Formation	10 cars (2 power cars, 8 postal cars)
Operators	SNCF for La Poste
Specifications
Train length	200 m (656 ft 2 in)
Width	2.904 m (9 ft 6.3 in)
Maximum speed	270 km/h (168 mph)
Power output	6,800 kW (9,119 hp) @ 25 kV
Electric system(s)	Overhead line:     25 kV 50 Hz AC     1,500 V DC
Current collection	Pantograph
Safety system(s)	TVM-300, KVB
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Services

The trainsets were built by Alstom between 1978 and 1986. These TGV units are essentially TGV Sud-Est trainsets that are modified for transporting mail. 5 half-trainsets were built, numbered 1–5. A further two, numbered 6 and 7, were converted from former TGV-SE trainset no. 38. Each half-trainset consisted of a power car and four intermediate-trailers.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, La Poste reduced services from 8 to 6 daily round trips.^[2]

On 21 March 2012 a demonstration freight train ran to London-St Pancras,^[3] but there was no follow-up.

In mid-2015, La Poste ended TGV postal services, shifting mail services to swap bodies instead as part of a major logistics restructuring and expansion which the trainsets were not capable of handling.^[1][4] Additionally, the demand for fast overnight mail services has been decreasing in recent years. The final service was on 27 June 2015 between Cavaillon (Marseille) and Charolais (Paris).^[1] La Poste originally was seeking a buyer for the fleet,^[1] however in December 2016 three trainsets were dismantled by SME (Société Métallurgique d'Épernay)^[5] leaving only a half spare trainset left.

Fleet details

Class	Number in service	Year built	Operator	Current units	Notes
Series 923000	2.5 (5 half-sets)	1981	La Poste	P1-P5
	1 (2 half-sets)	1984		P6-P7	Rebuilt from SNCF TGV Sud-Est passenger trainset no. 38

See also

• British Rail Class 325, 161 km/h (100 mph) postal EMUs used in Britain
• FS Class ETR 500, in freight operation since October, 2018. Maximum speed is 300 km/h (186 mph), average speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).