In service twenty car formations are run of two mirrored ten car units consisting of DM, MS, 4TS, RB, 2TF and TBF. Each running formation has 12 asynchronous traction motors, 8 axles on the power cars and 4 axles on the outer bogies of the leading coaches. Power output from a TMST is not the same on all voltages - the maximum power of 16,408hp (the power/weight ratio is 50% less than for a TGV Nord set) is only available when operating at 25kV. The maximum power when operating on 750v DC is roughly 28% of that total. The units have two types of braking. Non powered wheels have disc brakes. Powered wheels have pneumatically operated brake shoes for use under 25mph or in an emergency. At higher speeds the powered wheels use rheostatic braking. At the maximum speed of 186 mph (never reached in the UK!) the train can stop in 2.2 miles.

The thirty one units were divided between the partners in the Eurostar service consortium, the SNCF owning sixteen, BR EPS (European Passenger Services) eleven and SNCB four. The first test run of the PS (pre-series) 1 unit - consisting of power car 3001 and 3002 plus seven trailer cars - was on 28 January 1993 from Strasburg Ville. A run at 100mph was recorded the next day. On 20 June 1993 the first TMST ran through the Channel Tunnel. The Channel Tunnel was opened by the H.M. The Queen and President Mitterrand on 6 May 1994. The first London to Paris staff familiarisation purposes ran on 2 June 1994 and the services between London and Paris or Brussels - marketed as Eurostar - began on 14 November 1994.

photograph by Colin Duff

photograph by Colin Duff

photograph by Michael Taylor

photograph by Katherine Duff