The spotlight
Last month, France’s national railway operator released a glimpse of the designs for its upcoming fifth-generation high-speed train, the TGV Inoui. (TGV stands for train à grande vitesse, or “train of great speed.”) The glossy, well-lit photos show brightly colored interiors, cushiony seats, and sleek tables with rounded edges — even an eye-catching new table lamp, which has been described as adding “ a touch of humor to space — along with enhanced accessibility options, such as a platform designed specifically for wheelchair users, allowing them to boarded unaided. Regarding the train's exterior, according to a statement released by the company, its streamlined shape promises to increase energy efficiency by about 20% compared to previous models.
The newly designed trains are set to start operations in 2026 along the Paris-Lyon-Marseille corridor. However, their appearance has garnered significant attention domestically within France as well as internationally. A frequent comment heard among observers in the U.S. is: "Why don't we get something like this?"
The cheerful new light fixture on the fifth-generation TGV Inoui. Yann Audic
High-speed rail Is a type of cross-city transport that outperforms driving in efficiency, surpasses flying in convenience, and provides substantial reductions in carbon emissions. (There isn’t an official definition for "high-speed." Typically, this term begins at speeds exceeding 120 mph, approximately double the pace of traveling by car; however, certain regions set this threshold much higher.) As stated by the environmental group Project Drawdown, the anticipated expansion of high-speed rail over the coming thirty years could make considerable contributions. has the capability to reduce 1.26 to 3.62 gigatons of CO2 by substituting for air travel And, as the highly anticipated designs of the new TGV Inoui demonstrate, traveling by train can also become an appealing and almost coveted experience.
I simply found it gorgeous and somewhat distinctive," remarked Juan Buis, an Amsterdam-residing designer and user experience expert who has a particular fondness for public transit systems. "It's pretty neat how they were able to create something that feels simultaneously advanced and nostalgic," he added. "Who wouldn't want to ride the train when it appears like this?
Buis uploaded pictures of the new TGV interior on X , raving that the unveiling was "amazing" and praising the "1970s sci-fi atmosphere." His post rapidly gained millions of views — within two days, he updated the thread with a remark stating, "15 million views just for some images of a train; looks like public transportation is making a comeback!"
Buis mentioned that many individuals who showed interest in his post were Americans who exclaimed, "Check this out, amazing, we need more of this! What’s Amtrak up to?" Retweets often came with remarks such as: Must be nice ,” and “ It could be us but only if you step up. ," and even the hopeful image of " Picking up one item from Seattle to transport to Missoula, Montana along with a container full of Miller Lite bottles .”
An overview of the dining car on the new TGV Inoui shows an updated bistro menu with traditional French cuisine alongside vegan and vegetarian choices. Yann Audic
The United States indeed has a train network. Actually, Amtrak established all-time ridership record Last year, more than 32 million customers utilized its services. Additionally, Amtrak's premier rail service, the Acela, which operates between Washington, D.C., and Boston, can be considered high-speed for part of its journey, reaching speeds of up to 150 miles per hour. In comparison, France’s TGV achieves top speeds of around 200 miles per hour, while some Chinese routes reach maximum velocities of approximately 217 miles per hour. The Acela also offers its own incoming fleet These newly enhanced trains set to commence operations this spring will achieve speeds of up to 160 miles per hour, featuring additional amenities such as winged headrests and power sockets at each seat.
Although the Acela is the speediest train in the nation, "it doesn’t offer the genuinely revolutionary high-speed rail experience," stated Rick Harnish, who serves as the executive director and co-founder of the organization. High Speed Rail Alliance Amtrak has been gradually enhancing the route, yet Congress hasn't provided sufficient funds for it to significantly elevate its services, according to Harnish. "Given how Amtrak is set up, it’s tasked with accomplishing far more than what its resources allow."
That's improbable to change since Amtrak has face examination by the newly formed Trump administration While Elon Musk proposed that the federally established corporation ought to become private, Amtrak’s CEO, Stephen Gardner, stepped down last month.
At the same time, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has spoken out against a public high-speed rail project in California — the California High-Speed Rail initiative, designed to connect the northern and southern regions of the state — while commending a private venture: Brightline West, set to join a Los Angeles suburb with Las Vegas.
A decade ago, construction began on the California High-Speed Rail project, which was initially set to commence services between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2020. However, the initiative has fallen behind schedule and continues to face challenges. plagued by funding shortages And the challenge of obtaining land for different sections of the planned route. Last year, Brian Kelly, who serves as the project’s CEO, presented an updated business strategy to state legislators. highlighted the importance of sustained federal support t — something that appears doubtful now.
Brightline, the organization responsible for the Los Angeles-to-Las Vegas initiative, currently runs trains in Florida. Upon launching its initial route there in 2018, connecting Miami and West Palm Beach, it became the first privately-owned passenger train in the U.S. in 100 years The service connecting Miami and Orlando, launched in 2023, ranks as the second fastest train operation following the Acela, with top speeds of 125 miles per hour.
Although the routes in Florida were financed largely through the company’s own funds, Brightline operated similarly. received a $3 billion federal grant As part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill for their high-speed initiative in the Western region.
As construction is set to begin extensively this spring, Brightline West is anticipated to become functional by the end of the decade. Initially, the firm aimed to have the railway operating in preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, although officials have recently said The updated objective is to be operational by the conclusion of 2028. These fully electric trains are anticipated to achieve speeds up to 200 miles per hour, potentially making them the first in the U.S. to rival the velocities attained abroad.
"I believe Brightline West might trigger a turning point," Harnish stated—a preliminary experience that could result in a genuine desire to develop a comprehensive high-speed network across the U.S.
He added that another factor contributing to this shift is U.S. travelers experiencing the ease of using high-speed rail abroad. "There are individuals traveling extensively by train around the globe," he noted. "Perhaps some influential business leaders, like top executives visiting manufacturing plants in China, might be utilizing these rapid transit systems."
Both Harnish and Buis pointed out various aspects of their high-speed rail journey that they found attractive. Primarily, there’s the velocity—traveling by train surpasses driving because you bypass traffic jams, allowing passengers to utilize their commute for reading, working on laptops, or enjoying drinks at the bar car. Although trains may not match airplanes when measuring point-to-point speeds, they offer savings in terms of time spent navigating airport security and traveling to distant airports. Additionally, train stations typically situate themselves centrally within cities rather than away from populated areas. This central location paired with shorter queue times implies that travelers might enjoy greater flexibility, purchasing tickets spontaneously and boarding a departing train almost immediately.
“As for flexibility and convenience, nothing else compares,” stated Harnish.
Several years back, Harnish visited Rome for a business conference. "The previous week, coincidentally, I watched a film explaining why Neapolitan pizzas reign supreme globally," he mentioned. Following his discussion, as he strolled towards the central train station in Rome, inspiration struck him. He explained, "Despite not having purchased a ticket beforehand, I managed to board a high-speed train headed toward Naples within 15 minutes; it arrived at my destination in under an hour." Once in Naples, he explored the city, grabbed some pizza from one of the pizzerias featured in the documentary, then hopped back onto another fast-moving train heading back to Rome. By nine o'clock, he was right where he started. "It was such delightful fare indeed!"
Buis pointed out that journeying by train provides a sightseeing advantage over airplanes with their small windows or cars where drivers must focus on the road. "From an experiential standpoint, you feel as though you're truly traveling more compared to flying," he explained. "As scenery whizzes past your window, it feels more immersive. For instance, taking the train from Paris to Marseille offers stunning vistas. You'll witness majestic mountains and catch glimpses of the ocean. There's something almost enchanting about it."
Although he sometimes pokes fun At Americans on social media due to our slow advancement in modern railway infrastructure, Buis remains optimistic that the U.S. will start to close the gap with nations such as France—maybe someday, the U.S. could boast its very own enviable images of sleek, cutting-edge train interiors. "The U.S. has abundant design expertise and remarkable production capabilities," Buis noted. "It’s only a matter of time before this becomes reality."
— Claire Elise Thompson
More exposure
- Read: more about the The fifth-generation TGV Inoui, and the "Fear of Missing Out" it's generating (Fast Company)
- Read: more about how The Trump administration is aiming at reducing funding for environmentally friendly transportation initiatives and services. (solusikaki.com)
- Read: more about Brightline, along with the history of public versus privately-owned railways in the U.S. (The New York Times)
- Watch: a short Video tour of the inside of the new TGV Inoui (Alstom)
A parting shot
The speediest high-speed train in the world is the Shanghai Maglev , shown below, links the periphery of Shanghai to the city’s international airport. Unlike traditional trains that use steel wheels and tracks, this one is unprecedented as it is the world's first commercially operated high-speed train employing magnetic levitation technology (thus "maglev"). This innovative train can reach an astounding maximum speed. 286 miles per hour .
This tale was initially released by solusikaki.com with the headline America's new high-speed train design leaves people wondering: Why don't we have something like this too? on Apr 9, 2025.