Historical eventMay 181990

TGV

In France, a modified TGV train achieves a new rail world speed record of 515.3 km/h (320.2 mph).

Everything on May 18Original source

In context

When
Friday, May 18 199036 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1990s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1990.

What came beforeAI-assisted

The TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) began commercial service in 1981, initially operating between Paris and Lyon at speeds up to 260 km/h. By the late 1980s, France held the rail speed record at 482.4 km/h, set in 1989.

Catalyst / how it startedAI-assisted

SNCF (French National Railway Company) and Alstom designed a specially modified TGV trainset to attempt breaking the existing world speed record. The test run was conducted on the LGV Atlantique line between Tours and Paris.

Who was involvedAI-assisted

SNCF, France's state-owned railway operator, led the project with support from Alstom, the French train manufacturer. The test was conducted with specialized engineering teams and safety personnel.

TimelineAI-assisted

May 18, 1990: The modified TGV reached 515.3 km/h (320.2 mph), setting a new world rail speed record. This record stood for 17 years until Japan's Shinkansen exceeded it in 2007.

What happened

In France, a modified TGV train achieves a new rail world speed record of 515.3 km/h (320.2 mph).

May 18 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1990TGV
  2. 20062006 Nepalese revolution
  3. 2006Federal Parliament of Nepal
  4. 2009Sri Lanka Army
  5. 2009Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
  6. 2013Murder of Mark Carson
  7. 20152015 Colombian landslide
  8. 20182018 Santa Fe High School shooting
  9. 2018Cubana de Aviación Flight 0972
  10. 20192020 United States presidential election
  11. 20262026 Islamic Center of San Diego shooting

Also in 1990

  • September 91990 Batticaloa massacreBatticaloa massacre: Massacre of 184 Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan Army in Batticaloa District.
  • September 11Faucett PerúA Faucett Boeing 727 disappears in the Atlantic Ocean while being flown from Malta to Peru.
  • September 12Allied Control CouncilThe two German states and the Four Powers sign the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany in Moscow, paving the way for G…
  • September 12Red Cross Society of ChinaThe Red Cross organizations of mainland China and Taiwan sign the Kinmen Agreement on repatriation of illegal immigrants and criminal sus…
  • September 16DostykThe railroad between the People's Republic of China and Kazakhstan is completed at Dostyk, adding a sizable link to the concept of the Eu…
  • September 18LiechtensteinLiechtenstein becomes a member of the United Nations.
  • September 5Sri Lankan civil warSri Lankan Civil War: Sri Lankan Army soldiers slaughter 158 civilians.
  • November 17Mount UnzenFugendake, part of the Mount Unzen volcanic complex, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, becomes active again and erupts.

Everything we record for 1990 →

Sources

Cite this page

“TGV”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/tgv-1990-may-18, accessed October 28, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did TGV happen?

May 18 1990 — 36 years ago, on a Friday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints. Panels marked AI-assisted were filled where the sources left a heading empty.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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