Class 373 TGV TMST

A modified design of the TGV for the British loading gauge and for use in the Channel Tunnel, these high speed train sets have provided international passenger services between Britain and Paris/Brussels plus other seasonal destinations including Bourg-Saint-Maurice.

Capable of running up to 186 mph (300 kph) on LGV High Speed Lines in regular service they are currently the fastest train in operation in the UK.
One set (3313/3314) achieved 208 mph whist testing on High Speed 1 back in 2003 which set a new speed record for trains in Britain.

Two types were built. The Three Capitals Sets for the international services comprise of 18 passenger coaches including 2 buffet coaches.

The British North of London sets would have provided an international link from places such as Glasgow and Birmingham with Paris and Brussels. However this was shelved as the journey times would not have been competitive at the time. They had 14 passenger coaches including 2 buffet coaches.

For a while some of them were hired by GNER to operate on the East Coast Main Line as far as York and Leeds.

A small number have been fully refurbished and are also known as E300 sets, to easily identify them alongside the Velaro E320 fleet. A few members of the fleet, including the pioneer set (3001/3002 have been taken to EMR Kingsbury to be scrapped which was a shame. The former North of London sets and the three 3 Capitals sets that had been used by SNCF have been replaced by TGV Duplex sets to increase capacity on the Paris - Lille services. Three powercars have been saved for the future however. 3308 is part of the UK National Collection and now resides in the National Railway Museum in York. Two power cars (3101 and 3102 are being used in UK National High Speed Rail colleges. 3101 now has a green/blue livery and named 'Donnystar' as it now resides in Doncaster's High Speed Rail college. 3102 was repainted in pink and named 'Brumstar' and was delivered to the High Speed Rail college in Birmingham. Hope you enjoy this album.