THE president of French infrastructure manager SNCF Network Mr Jacques Rapoport confirmed on January 20 that the opening of the second phase of TGV Est, which was delayed following the fatal derailment of a test train at Eckwersheim near Strasbourg on November 14, will take place on July 3.
FRENCH National Railways (SNCF) president Mr Guillaume Pepy confirmed on November 19 that an initial internal investigation into the derailment of a test train on TGV Est Phase 2 on November 14, which killed 11 people, has identifed that the accident was caused by excessive speed following a late brake application.