Cardiff to London Paddington - record attempt

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

There's an attempt on the record time from Cardiff to London Paddington this afternoon.  Aiming to beat 97m 37s set in August 1988 and possibly break the 90 minute mark, which will be a challenge to say the least.

Article here: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2011/10/26/first-great-western-on-track-to-break-capital-to-capital-record-91466-29660416/

And schedule here:

[Btline]

How will this work on a weekday? Will they delay other trains/move them to the slow lines? Cancel Heathrow Express?

[IndustryInsider]

How will this work on a weekday? Will they delay other trains/move them to the slow lines? Cancel Heathrow Express?

How does it work on any day?  I'd imagine reasonable efforts to regulate other services should that be needed will be made, but not to the extent that they'll be nothing else just in front all the way.

[eightf48544]

Problem with the fragmented railway FGW^▸ (First Great Western) can longer issue a "Please Explain" to a signalman who delays a train like this.

They are dependant on the goodwill of the Network rail signalmen and other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company)' control.

I refuse to use signaller if my Granmother insisted on being Mr Mayor when she was mayor of Southampton (she was a feminist before they were invented) then Signalman is the word.

Signallers are chirpy cockneys at the back of warship bridges in films who are first to be killed.

[Ollie]

Appears to be running as a 2+5 and it's currently on time

[super tm]

On time bristol parkway 

[JayMac]

Shout out to those with access to TRUST^▸ (Train Running System TOPS). How did it get on?

(A screengrab or cut n paste of the complete timings would be nice also.  )

[the void]

           Location        Booked      Arr          Dep
77301 CARDIFCEN  12:21        12:20A     1 EARLY M LINE
73000 PADDINGTN 13:58        13:56A      2 EARLY

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

hardly seems worth it for 1 min... why didn't they wait until they had a 180 back (if they are coming)

[Btline]

I refuse to use signaller...Signalman is the word.

Well said that man.

I agree that they should wait for 180s or electrification/IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.).

Would be good to see a Worcester - Pad service like that, non stop. But for passengers...

[IndustryInsider]

hardly seems worth it for 1 min... why didn't they wait until they had a 180 back (if they are coming)

A record is a record I suppose, even if only a few seconds were shaved off you can still generate plenty of positive column inches.  A 180, whilst being slightly quicker off the mark, probably wouldn't fare too much better than a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) in a 2+5 formation.

Here's the timings:

[inspector_blakey]

The reporting number made me smile. I know a train planner or two who used to work in Bristol and for some reason (I think 37 was the number of someone's scout troop or something along those lines) would always give trains they were told "could not be done" the reporting number 1Z37.

Wonder if it's just co-incidence or if that tradition has stuck...

[Brucey]

I assumed that 1Z37 was chosen because the previous record was 1hr, 37 mins and 37 secs?

[devon_metro]

Interesting that it took 25 mins Reading - Paddington. A train that stops at Reading can achieve that so obviously could have done better.

[inspector_blakey]

I assumed that 1Z37 was chosen because the previous record was 1hr, 37 mins and 37 secs?

Oh yeah, good point, didn't spot that one...