While this set features Duplex trailers, 1 of its 2 power cars comes from TGV Réseau set 519 (Z-28038), whose single deck-trailers are now used on TGV POS set No 4401.
This is due to an accident which damaged 1 Duplex power car of set No 257 (Z-29114) in April 2004.
There is no restriction to such hybrid formations, as Duplex sets were originally to have TGV Réseau-style power cars (1989/1990). Only in 1992 did SNCF change its mind and opted for state-of-the-art power-cars.
Such formations will become common use from 2006 onwards, as 15 Duplex sets (bare trailers, batch 5) will get 30 (cascaded) TGV R power-cars.
In turn, 15x8 TGV R trailers are to be re-formed with 30 new POS power cars, so as to run on Paris-Zurich/Stuttgart/Frankfurt, using LGV Est.
Lyon-Perrache.
4th October 2004.
Photo by Nicolas Godin (lyonrail@free.fr) (Acknowledgements).
Posting and comment by P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)