Great Western Coffee Shop

I found this paper, written by a University of California academic in 1992, whilst scouring the internet for information on the history of the InterCity 125 (HST).

It makes for very interesting reading, coming, as it does, from someone with no links to the UK rail business at that time. Well written, containing a wealth of information on the history of trunk passenger rail provision in the UK, particularly the introduction, and use of, InterCity 125 and Intercity 225 services.

The reason for the report was to examine UK best practice and potentially apply that to a future High Speed rail service in California.

Times have moved on, but this is an interesting snapshot of early 1990s High Speed rail provision in the UK.

http://www.uctc.net/papers/114.pdf

If you go back even earlier to after full dieseliation and first 25Kv electrifications BR held a number of records for the fastest trains on non high speed lines. Even suburban lines like the Clactons with their 60+ average speed over 10 to 15 miles dashes. !00 mile an hour averages between York and Northallerton. 2 hours to Crewe and Doncaster at over 90 average speed. 40 minutes non stop Bath Reading around 100.

Unfortunately IC 225 never got to 225 and the APT was scrapped so the Italians could do the tilt on the Pendolinos.