High Speed Classic - BBC interactive feature on the HST

[whole diary]

[stuving]

How many carriages on Hitachi's new train(s).. that one definitely didn't look to have 8.. it resembled a class 180 in length

I'll let you into a secret ... there is no real train, that CGI^▸ (Computer-Generated Imagery) one exists only in the imagination of a computer. So it was probably created the right length to fit into the screen - why do the extra work to generate carriages that won't be seen? Plus, of course, the contract has two lengths of train and it avoids trying to represent that.

[ChrisB]

How many carriages on Hitachi's new train(s).. that one definitely didn't look to ohave 8.. it resembled a class 180 in length

Some will have 5 coaches others will have 9.

Specifically, the ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) out of Kings Cross is expected to get a 9-car IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.) for each of the current 9-coach IC125 and IC225 trains, plus 5-car IEPs to expand the fleet size. The Great Western, on the other hand, is only expected to have 18 9-car diagrams, which will be limited to the electrified routes (to Bristol and Swansea). Except that all the Swansea, Cardiff and Bristol services would require about 22 diagrams, so some workings even on those routes would be 5-car. Everywhere else on the Great Western is not planned to receive electrification and would be stuck with 5-car IEPs on all services (with one or two London-peak workings into strengthened to 10-car by running the fives in multiple). For further discussion on that, see this topic. The only exception is services to Plymouth and Penzance, which is currently not expected to be getting IEP.

You forgot one major word re the GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about)....'yet'

I'm sure that, before the current planned electrification is up & running, additional sets & wires will be announced/ordered & it will become a rolling project

[John R]

Whilst rooting around for something else the other day, I found the ticket shown in the attached image. That was my first ever visit to London; I seem to remember the promotional price was ^3 return...

I too went on that promotion, albeit from Cardiff, and similarly it was my first trip to London, other than a school trip. Though I recall the price being ^1.25, a figure that would have been chosen for obvious reasons.