Bordeaux to Paris with the OLDEST TGV still in service!
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Date: 2024-01-09
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Comments and reviews: 35
-KyrilPG
14: 40 In Latin culture, and especially French culture, lunching or dining can take hours. And I'm not joking, a lunch can take up to 2, 3 or 4 hours, no matter the quality or quantity of food.
If you put booths with tables like on ICE's, you'll have a few people clogging the place for a large portion of the journey, preventing others from having a seat and the -restaurant- from making any profit.
And good luck if you try to enforce a time limit.
You'd experience the wrath of disgruntled French to the point you'd just end up letting them have it their way.
The bar option is much more indicated so that people do not overstay in this car.
They buy something to eat or drink and either stay for a short time or go back to their seats.
You'd be surprised by the number of times I've heard ICE's restaurant car attendants complaining about those pesky French (particularly) and other Latins clogging the tables of the car for too long.
And if you put table booths in TGV's you could be sure it would be colonized in a matter of minutes by passengers bringing their own food, especially on holiday peak season.
The bar car already can be crowded by groups that bring their own drinks on holiday destination services.
The choice of a bar is simply the workaround of a cultural specificity.
Putting a sitdown restaurant in a French high-speed train would be like putting a pub car in an English train: asking for trouble.
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14: 40 In Latin culture, and especially French culture, lunching or dining can take hours. And I'm not joking, a lunch can take up to 2, 3 or 4 hours, no matter the quality or quantity of food.
If you put booths with tables like on ICE's, you'll have a few people clogging the place for a large portion of the journey, preventing others from having a seat and the -restaurant- from making any profit.
And good luck if you try to enforce a time limit.
You'd experience the wrath of disgruntled French to the point you'd just end up letting them have it their way.
The bar option is much more indicated so that people do not overstay in this car.
They buy something to eat or drink and either stay for a short time or go back to their seats.
You'd be surprised by the number of times I've heard ICE's restaurant car attendants complaining about those pesky French (particularly) and other Latins clogging the tables of the car for too long.
And if you put table booths in TGV's you could be sure it would be colonized in a matter of minutes by passengers bringing their own food, especially on holiday peak season.
The bar car already can be crowded by groups that bring their own drinks on holiday destination services.
The choice of a bar is simply the workaround of a cultural specificity.
Putting a sitdown restaurant in a French high-speed train would be like putting a pub car in an English train: asking for trouble.
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-brooklynelite5428
One thing I've always admired is how the the trains in Europe are not just a plain boring silver they are beautiful color schemes something In America they don't do and if so it's seen once and disappear. America really needs to severely upgrade amtrak our only rail service which lacks behind in the rest of the world in service availability and expansion as well as electrification to the whole entire amtrak portfolio. The acela is a start but the new one exterior wise especially the front and back engines don't like them the older acela is much better looking going to miss it when it retires. Even the trains in Europe have big huge windows nyc transit is trying to take away the window for wider doors who cares about wide doors I've never had a problem entering or exiting. I think America needs to take some notes from our European friends. It would be nice to see the MTA keep some r46 subways cars and re do the whole interior that's just a dream not going to happen.
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One thing I've always admired is how the the trains in Europe are not just a plain boring silver they are beautiful color schemes something In America they don't do and if so it's seen once and disappear. America really needs to severely upgrade amtrak our only rail service which lacks behind in the rest of the world in service availability and expansion as well as electrification to the whole entire amtrak portfolio. The acela is a start but the new one exterior wise especially the front and back engines don't like them the older acela is much better looking going to miss it when it retires. Even the trains in Europe have big huge windows nyc transit is trying to take away the window for wider doors who cares about wide doors I've never had a problem entering or exiting. I think America needs to take some notes from our European friends. It would be nice to see the MTA keep some r46 subways cars and re do the whole interior that's just a dream not going to happen.
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train
one little plus: The TGV oceane is direct from paris to bordeaux but then it still has some other stops;
Arcachon Branch: Facture-Biganos, Arcachon
Toulouse Branch: Agen, Montauban Ville-Bourbon, Toulouse
Tarbres branch: Dax, Orthez, Pau, Lourdes, Tarbes
Basque Coast branch: Dax, Bayonne, Biarritz, St Jean de Luz - Ciboure, Hendaye
The Paris - Bordeaux non-direct now a days doesn't go beyond Bordeaux.
Edit: also i am very sad about sncf scrapping this train, since it's the train of my childhood, because i live in the basque country and I took it 3 times a year to visit my grandparents at the Poitou, and also sometimes to visit some more family at Paris. This is the train that made me like the trains when i was little. Also i remember that trais went from hendaye all the way to paris serving all of the stops but since the opening of LGV in 2017 it's not the case anymore and you have to change trains at Bordeaux if you want to go anywhere else than paris.
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one little plus: The TGV oceane is direct from paris to bordeaux but then it still has some other stops;
Arcachon Branch: Facture-Biganos, Arcachon
Toulouse Branch: Agen, Montauban Ville-Bourbon, Toulouse
Tarbres branch: Dax, Orthez, Pau, Lourdes, Tarbes
Basque Coast branch: Dax, Bayonne, Biarritz, St Jean de Luz - Ciboure, Hendaye
The Paris - Bordeaux non-direct now a days doesn't go beyond Bordeaux.
Edit: also i am very sad about sncf scrapping this train, since it's the train of my childhood, because i live in the basque country and I took it 3 times a year to visit my grandparents at the Poitou, and also sometimes to visit some more family at Paris. This is the train that made me like the trains when i was little. Also i remember that trais went from hendaye all the way to paris serving all of the stops but since the opening of LGV in 2017 it's not the case anymore and you have to change trains at Bordeaux if you want to go anywhere else than paris.
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-tng2057
Great to see my old friend, whom I first met in early 80s when it was dressed in orange. I still have a photo of a younger myself with my backpack standing next to it at Geneva. Interestingly I felt at the time, that a Shinkansen ride was smoother. It was France-s pride nonetheless and it made great publicity when it beat the Shinkansen on speed at the time.
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Great to see my old friend, whom I first met in early 80s when it was dressed in orange. I still have a photo of a younger myself with my backpack standing next to it at Geneva. Interestingly I felt at the time, that a Shinkansen ride was smoother. It was France-s pride nonetheless and it made great publicity when it beat the Shinkansen on speed at the time.
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-jamesholmes2379
Great video Thibault! I have fond memories of travelling on the Atlantique sets between Paris and Laval -. pre Lacroix refurbishment when there was conference style layout where the second class small compartment is with cycle spaces now-. the layout in coaches 2 and 3 is unique and very stylish. Good to see some of the sets are still in traffic.
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Great video Thibault! I have fond memories of travelling on the Atlantique sets between Paris and Laval -. pre Lacroix refurbishment when there was conference style layout where the second class small compartment is with cycle spaces now-. the layout in coaches 2 and 3 is unique and very stylish. Good to see some of the sets are still in traffic.
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train
I have taken various TGV & Thalys trains to and from Bordeaux several times over the past ten years. The service is always excellent and the trains are consistently well kept. Your views of the station are great and show most of the grandeur of this fabulous structure. Vive La France!
I wish we had trains & stations in America at the same standard.
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I have taken various TGV & Thalys trains to and from Bordeaux several times over the past ten years. The service is always excellent and the trains are consistently well kept. Your views of the station are great and show most of the grandeur of this fabulous structure. Vive La France!
I wish we had trains & stations in America at the same standard.
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-yeeye3395
Ok, I just travelled on a Eurostar and TGV in France. How come some of the toilets have pink toilet paper? And why are the ones in the Chemical toilets like wax paper? Or sand paper for that matter LOL! Is there a specific kind of paper used in the chemical toilets? In the UK they are all clearwater toilets, and it isn't that waxy sandpaper type.
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Ok, I just travelled on a Eurostar and TGV in France. How come some of the toilets have pink toilet paper? And why are the ones in the Chemical toilets like wax paper? Or sand paper for that matter LOL! Is there a specific kind of paper used in the chemical toilets? In the UK they are all clearwater toilets, and it isn't that waxy sandpaper type.
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-Trainsforlife89
Well done, once again, Thibault! I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. From the classic beauties you call stations to the wonder a TGV is. I love the concept of marrying classic TGV elements with a modern livery and interior. Many of us railfans around the world will be so sad to see them go. Respect and greetings from Athens, Greece.
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Well done, once again, Thibault! I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. From the classic beauties you call stations to the wonder a TGV is. I love the concept of marrying classic TGV elements with a modern livery and interior. Many of us railfans around the world will be so sad to see them go. Respect and greetings from Athens, Greece.
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-railvideoseu
Nice report! I recently travelled the same route on Ouigo and it is interesting to see the difference with this InOui service. Not a whole lot actually. The Ouigo trains lack a bar, that-s the only big difference I could see. And the price obviously, with Ouigo being much cheaper. How do you think the two compare?
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Nice report! I recently travelled the same route on Ouigo and it is interesting to see the difference with this InOui service. Not a whole lot actually. The Ouigo trains lack a bar, that-s the only big difference I could see. And the price obviously, with Ouigo being much cheaper. How do you think the two compare?
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-pandahugs2271
I think i noticed you in bordeaux. I have been frequenting in and out of poitiers but by then you had already been on your way. I have been travelling between bordeaux and poitiers and love these old trains. Classy and nice and some of these old trains even have services from brussels midi to bordeaux.
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I think i noticed you in bordeaux. I have been frequenting in and out of poitiers but by then you had already been on your way. I have been travelling between bordeaux and poitiers and love these old trains. Classy and nice and some of these old trains even have services from brussels midi to bordeaux.
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-danc1513
I absolutely love the look of the Atlantique TGV, the power car specifically. The mix of curves with sharp lines gives if a distinct iconic look. The Duplexes are nice, but they lack that distinctiveness, to my eyes at least. I hope I get to visit France again one day and ride it before they all retire.
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I absolutely love the look of the Atlantique TGV, the power car specifically. The mix of curves with sharp lines gives if a distinct iconic look. The Duplexes are nice, but they lack that distinctiveness, to my eyes at least. I hope I get to visit France again one day and ride it before they all retire.
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train
Only traveled on an Atlantique version from Boulogne to Lyon in 2017, and loved the Lacroix interior on that journey. What is the purpose of the pre-boarding, it seems quite strange. Hope to get back to France in 2024 for the Olympics and traveling far and wide. Cannot wait
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Only traveled on an Atlantique version from Boulogne to Lyon in 2017, and loved the Lacroix interior on that journey. What is the purpose of the pre-boarding, it seems quite strange. Hope to get back to France in 2024 for the Olympics and traveling far and wide. Cannot wait
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-tomsmith5584
Thanks for the ride. It gets real impressive when you realize these trains are over a quarter of a mile long. I suspect the new soap dispensers are because the old soap dispensers couldn't handle the antibacterial soap they are using now thanks to the pandemic.
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Thanks for the ride. It gets real impressive when you realize these trains are over a quarter of a mile long. I suspect the new soap dispensers are because the old soap dispensers couldn't handle the antibacterial soap they are using now thanks to the pandemic.
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-SiriusXAim
The little second class compartment at the end of the train used to be the smoking lounge back in the day.
90's TGV's were a sight to behold. Seats were super plush, and bar food was phenomenal. I still have some of the bowls they used to serve real food in.
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The little second class compartment at the end of the train used to be the smoking lounge back in the day.
90's TGV's were a sight to behold. Seats were super plush, and bar food was phenomenal. I still have some of the bowls they used to serve real food in.
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-ironmantrains
Awesome video, the TGV-A is my favourite type of TGV. Thankfully I cabbed one in 2019 which was cool. How can you tell if your service is being operated by a TGV-A set? Are they confined to the 'stoppers' or can they be found on the fasts occasionally?
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Awesome video, the TGV-A is my favourite type of TGV. Thankfully I cabbed one in 2019 which was cool. How can you tell if your service is being operated by a TGV-A set? Are they confined to the 'stoppers' or can they be found on the fasts occasionally?
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-Cazzi5001
Do these still operate to La Rochelle? I am going on Saturday the 4th of November and returning on Sunday the 5th of November. I would really appriciate any reccomendations on how to travel on one of these to La Rochelle if they still do: )
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Do these still operate to La Rochelle? I am going on Saturday the 4th of November and returning on Sunday the 5th of November. I would really appriciate any reccomendations on how to travel on one of these to La Rochelle if they still do: )
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-albe6253
With this particulary lenght, Atlantiques are only suitable for domestic services. If they were shortened to 8+2, they could do more services outside France.
The question is, they will still alive when the new TGV-M ones hit the lines?
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With this particulary lenght, Atlantiques are only suitable for domestic services. If they were shortened to 8+2, they could do more services outside France.
The question is, they will still alive when the new TGV-M ones hit the lines?
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-maxinlux6570
Salut Thibault! Would these TGV -A- be the same as the TGV Atlantique which I used to take between Paris and Nantes back in the early 90s when I studied there? Then the good old Corail between Paris and Luxembourg, happy days-
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Salut Thibault! Would these TGV -A- be the same as the TGV Atlantique which I used to take between Paris and Nantes back in the early 90s when I studied there? Then the good old Corail between Paris and Luxembourg, happy days-
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train
Instead of scrapping the ones they did they should have slapped an all-second-class interior into them and used them as ouigo ones. high speed yet low cost travel is in high demand at the moment and will only increase.
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Instead of scrapping the ones they did they should have slapped an all-second-class interior into them and used them as ouigo ones. high speed yet low cost travel is in high demand at the moment and will only increase.
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-rezaalan3991
Great trip. For a HST with age around 30 years old, this was great. The route is combinations between classic and High Speed, and also serving some Cities on Classic Line, feels like ICE in Germany.
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Great trip. For a HST with age around 30 years old, this was great. The route is combinations between classic and High Speed, and also serving some Cities on Classic Line, feels like ICE in Germany.
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train
Thank you for an excellent video. I really like the TGV-A, and the refurbishment has been good. I hope they continue in service for a long time, especially on the old route between Bordeaux and Angouleme.
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Thank you for an excellent video. I really like the TGV-A, and the refurbishment has been good. I hope they continue in service for a long time, especially on the old route between Bordeaux and Angouleme.
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-odiliusrailfans
in Indonesia I have an EMU train of the Tokyo Metro 6000 type which is very old but some units such as the 6001F, 6024F and 6029F use IGBT-VVVF propulsion. Until now still operating in Jakarta
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in Indonesia I have an EMU train of the Tokyo Metro 6000 type which is very old but some units such as the 6001F, 6024F and 6029F use IGBT-VVVF propulsion. Until now still operating in Jakarta
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-gethplatform2392
The bridge after Poitiers (the shot where you said you were back on the high-speed line, just before the train review) is one of the highest and longest train viaducts in Europe.
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The bridge after Poitiers (the shot where you said you were back on the high-speed line, just before the train review) is one of the highest and longest train viaducts in Europe.
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-Militaryfic
I usually traveling on KTX and always wondered how French people spending much more long time on tiny tiny little cabbin. Same train, same problems predictably, especially toilet: )
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I usually traveling on KTX and always wondered how French people spending much more long time on tiny tiny little cabbin. Same train, same problems predictably, especially toilet: )
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-hollyvasquez2087
I-m visiting Spain and France next year. I-m having trouble finding a way by train between Madrid Spain and Paris France. Please point me in the right direction to find tickets
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I-m visiting Spain and France next year. I-m having trouble finding a way by train between Madrid Spain and Paris France. Please point me in the right direction to find tickets
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-mark_delfino
Your timing is lucky for me, I'll be travelling from Bordeaux to Poitiers and back in a few weeks. Out on a duplex and back on one of these probably! Thanks for the video
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Your timing is lucky for me, I'll be travelling from Bordeaux to Poitiers and back in a few weeks. Out on a duplex and back on one of these probably! Thanks for the video
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-JoernBeneken
The design of french trains is almost always horrible.
Everything is not straight, ugly Color-s are used, no clear line. Technical elements are ungraceful.
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The design of french trains is almost always horrible.
Everything is not straight, ugly Color-s are used, no clear line. Technical elements are ungraceful.
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-timnewman1172
Such a nice trip, I keep saying we need trains like this in North America. and the railway station at Bordeaux, simply magnificent. Thank you Thibault!
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Such a nice trip, I keep saying we need trains like this in North America. and the railway station at Bordeaux, simply magnificent. Thank you Thibault!
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-albe6253
Yes and no. Yes for running a -second life- for this trains. And no because with time, the maintenance and consumption is more expensive than newer sets.
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Yes and no. Yes for running a -second life- for this trains. And no because with time, the maintenance and consumption is more expensive than newer sets.
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-scottyerkes1867
Glad these old TGV A were tefurbished and used. The canopy and station at Bordeaux are beautiful.
Thank you Thibault for a good review. ----
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Glad these old TGV A were tefurbished and used. The canopy and station at Bordeaux are beautiful.
Thank you Thibault for a good review. ----
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train
They're older than the Eurostar sets that went to scrap. They're 8 to 12 years older than Amtrak's Acela sets due for replacement with Alstom Avelia sets.
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They're older than the Eurostar sets that went to scrap. They're 8 to 12 years older than Amtrak's Acela sets due for replacement with Alstom Avelia sets.
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-SimplyRailway
Hey folks, I hope you liked the video.
I'm currently experiencing new style of maps for my intro. Let me know your thoughts: -)
Thibault
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Hey folks, I hope you liked the video.
I'm currently experiencing new style of maps for my intro. Let me know your thoughts: -)
Thibault
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-ProfSimonHolland
we use this service all the time. thanks for explaining the trains and the 2 routes. i always wondered why some take 3 hours and others 2
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we use this service all the time. thanks for explaining the trains and the 2 routes. i always wondered why some take 3 hours and others 2
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-eds. 4815
I like the 4 seat club compartments in first class, but they also make the single seat side seem like they just put extra seats in a passageway.
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I like the 4 seat club compartments in first class, but they also make the single seat side seem like they just put extra seats in a passageway.
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-lilybertine5673
What would be great for future trains is maybe a panoramic frontview in the first car- thinking about how they could improve the duplex.
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What would be great for future trains is maybe a panoramic frontview in the first car- thinking about how they could improve the duplex.
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