Les Trains en France (Trains in France)
By Tor P., 5th Grade
Back again, that’s right, it’s Tor. This time I will be talking on the subject of trains, France’s favorite way to get around.
Surely they do drive cars here, and there are superhighways and airports, but nearly every town has a train station. The trains here go much faster than in America, too. You may dimly recall from my column from the fall Light Bulb that there is also a 200-mph train here. It is called the TGV, for Train à Grande Vitesse, or Train of Great Speed (picture included).
There are very few freight trains here, and they are outnumbered by passenger trains. Given how many trains there are here, one would expect there to be lots of level crossings (places where the road crosses the tracks) here. But actually, there are barely any. If a train has to go through a built-up area like central Bordeaux (the town where I live), it goes in a tunnel.
But the story doesn’t stop in town! Most cities have more than one train station, and trams (light rail, like in Portland) are abundant. Maybe in thirty years, there will be a train system like this in the United States, but it will never be exactly like the amazing French railway system. If you want to see trains like this, then you have two options: 1) go to France; 2) wait 30 years (satisfaction not guaranteed).
-Tor
Great to hear from you again, Tor! Like you, I wish we had better trains in the US. You describe things well, and make a good case for it. But I think you’re right, if we want to see trains like that, going to France is a better bet than waiting 30 years! Have you visited http://www.seat61.com yet? Somehow, I think you and the man in seat 61 have a lot in common! We miss you and love reading your stories!
Yes, I have been to seat61.com and, yes, we do have a lot in common. Did you know that I am going to go to Morocco this spring? Not by train, of course, but maybe I could take the train in 20 years — a tunnel under the straits of Gibraltar is in the works. Glad to hear you like my articles!
–it’s Tor
Wow… I hadn’t heard about your Morocco trip and I had no idea there were plans for a tunnel from Spain to Morocco! That will be amazing… Imagine taking the train all the way from Northern Europe to Northern Africa. We once flew from Senegal through Morocco and London to Scotland – from sand to snow in one day! (Best of all, the London to Inverness part was by overnight sleeper train – very cool). What are you going to do in Morocco?
Yes, imagine that! Keep an eye out on the blog because my newest article will be about my trip in Morocco. I’m about to upload it!
I really like this Tor and by the way I am new and in 5grade.
I look forward to meeting you! We’ll probably be at Roosevelt together, right?