The De Deitrichs are are not that old (16 or 17 years) and may need some refurb, but not replacing. We have become used to very extravagant expenditure on new rolling stock in this country, and seem to overlook the durability of properly-maintained stock. The original Paris-Lyon TGV sets were built between 1978 and 1984, and are still going strong with at least one mid-life upgrade: rolling stock that old would have our pathetic journalists going on about clapped-out trains!
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