TGV Duplex
The Duplex inaugurated the third generation of TGV trainsets, and was specially designed to increase capacity on lines with saturated traffic. With two seating levels and a seating capacity of 545 passengers, the Duplex maximizes the number of passengers carried in one trainset. While the TGV Duplex started as a small component of the TGV fleet, it is poised to become the work horse of the TGV fleet as orders for additional trainsets accumulate.
When a high speed line reaches its saturation limit, there are several options available to increase capacity. Perhaps the most obvious way is to reduce train headways. To achieve this, increasingly complex signalling systems and high performance brakes (to reduce braking distance) are required. While these avenues have already been pursued to some extent (headways are down to three minutes on some TGV lines), the technical difficulties of continually improving signalling and braking make other solutions to the problem more attractive. |
The TGV Sud-Est line from Paris to Lyon is the busiest high speed line in France (perhaps in the world), and since its opening in 1981 it has rapidly reached capacity. The mitigation of this problem was to run pairs of trainsets in MU (multiple unit) configuration, but even this has not provided enough capacity, besides the additional requirement for very long station platforms. If you can't make a train longer or wider, then the only way is to make it higher; hence the TGV Duplex, with passenger seating on two levels, and 45% more passenger capacity than an equivalent single level TGV.
Find out more at http://www.trainweb.org/tgvpages/duplex.html
Find out more at http://www.trainweb.org/tgvpages/duplex.html