<---The modified TGV was powered by two enginesTuesday, 3 April 2007. A French high-speed train (TGV) has smashed the world record for a train on rails by a big margin, reaching 574.8km/h (356mph). The previous TGV record was 515km/h (320mph), set in 1990.
The record attempt by a modified TGV took place on a track between Paris and the eastern city of Strasbourg.
The absolute train speed record was set by a Japanese magnetic levitation train - Maglev - in 2003. It reached 581km/h (361mph).
The TGV set the new record at 1314 (1114GMT) on Tuesday. It was a modified version called V150, with larger wheels than usual and two engines driving three double-decker cars.
V150 TRAIN
Two engines - one at each end
Three double-decker cars
Three motorised bogies
Power output: more than 25,000 horsepower
Cost: 30m euros (£22m; $40m)
The event was broadcast live on French TV.
The train travelled almost as fast as a World War II Spitfire fighter at top speed.
The electrical tension in the overhead cable was boosted from 25,000 volts to 31,000 for the record attempt.
French TGV trains, in service since 1981, generally travel at about 300km/h. But from 10 June they will be allowed to reach 320km/h on the recently opened Paris-Strasbourg LGV Est line.
SNCF and the train's makers Alstom say the record attempt represents a test on the infrastructure in extreme conditions, which is impossible to carry out in the laboratory.
Alstom also aims to boost TGV sales abroad, where it is competing with the Japanese Shinkansen and the German Inter-City Express high-speed trains.
China, South Korea and Taiwan are the most important customers for high-speed trains.
