TGVs being used as ambulance trains
FRENCH Railways (SNCF) has been operating TGV high-speed trains to transport coronavirus patients to cities with spare hospital beds since late March.
In early March, the Grand Est region in eastern France saw a major outbreak of coronavirus, as did Paris, with hospitals unable to keep pace with admissions.
SNCF has created a special pool of eight TGV Duplex sets to be used nationwide for coronavirus transport, at the request of the Government.
The first train ran from
Mulhouse and Nancy on
March 26, carrying 36 patients on stretchers along with ventilators to hospitals in Angers and Nantes. Others followed to Rennes and St Brieuc, with stations being selected for ease of access by ambulances.
The trains have been equipped with emergency generators in case the on-board power supply fails.
Each train has been formed of two TGV sets, with patients only carried in the rear set, and the front set acting as a safety barrier should the train hit an object on a level crossing.
Additional safety precautions include running an empty train directly in front of the special TGV to ensure the line is clear.
There are crewed rescue locos at key points en route.
The Spanish government was considering the use of high-speed trains to move patients. RENFE worked with manufacturer Talgo to prepare Class 730 bi-mode trains equipped with variable gauge bogies for possible use.
Indian Railways has converted up to 5,000 coaches to be used as stationary isolation wards if required by medical authorities – potentially holding 80,000 patients.