Patrick has traveled more than 13 million kilometers and after 40 years of service on the rails, he retired last December. No, Patrick is not a railroader, but the first high-speed train dedicated to passenger transport. Patrick is the very first TGV to leave the Alstom factories in Belfort in July 1978, a true legend in French rail. An article from Le Figaro tells us its story.
Patrick drives for the first time on September 1, 1978 on the Paris-Sud-Est high-speed line, then just completed. On September 22, 1981, François Mitterrand inaugurated the line, before it was opened to the public on September 27. A total of 109 first generation trains were manufactured and crisscrossed the entire French territory.
>> Find Julien Pearce's morning show in replay and podcast here
Patrick's TGV farewell tour
Patrick also broke many records. Indeed, its trains have for the first time exceeded the commercial speed of 250 km / h, spinning at 260, then 270, then 300 km / h, until reaching 380 km / h in 1981, smashing the world record. This is the reason why the SNCF and the drivers decided to pay tribute to him two months after his last trip. The farewell tour of the first TGV, soberly called "Au revoir Patrick", began on Wednesday 5 February.
Moment of emotion with the launch of the farewell tour of the very first TGV Sud-Est train! She has traveled the equivalent of 335 round the world! # aurevoirpatrick # SNCF heritage pic.twitter.com/iFpw1zty92
- Marianne Azoulay (@MarianneAzoulay) February 5, 2020For his farewell tour, Patrick put on his ceremonial costume. It has regained its original color, bright orange, to the delight of its most loyal admirers on social networks. His farewell tour includes the visit of several SNCF technicians in the coming weeks. The farewell tour of the TGV will end on February 25, then perhaps Patrick will be exhibited at the Cité du train in Mulhouse.