A specially-modified French high-speed train broke the world rail speed record on Tuesday, traveling at 357 mph on a section of new high-speed track in eastern France. The record-setting double-decker trainset, built by Alstom and dubbed V150 (for the goal of traveling at 150 meters/second or 335.5 mph), was an enhanced version of the equipment that will run on the new TGV East line, which opens for commercial service on June 10 this year. Normal service on TGV East will be at 199 mph, cutting travel time by one-third to one-half of the current travel times and linking Paris to the Champagne, Lorraine and Alsace regions of France, as well as new direct connections to Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Tickets and schedules for TGV East are available April 10 at www.raileurope.com (www.raileurope.ca in Canada).