High Speed Train - Fleet Operation

In October 1976 British Rail introduced its first 200 km/h service on the London-Bristol and London-South Wales services. This followed several years of design work and extensive testing of a prototype train. The increase in passenger traffic on these routes, during the first two years of high speed operation, clearly indicates that there is a demand for such a service and that the train itself fully meets the need from the passenger viewpoint. Unlike some railway administrations, who have built separate lines dedicated to high speed services, it is British Rail policy to operate these units on the existing network, sharing it with passenger and freight trains running at conventional speeds. Because of this policy the designer is constrained by track impact force limitations specified by the Civil Engineer and he must also ensure that the train can be operated safely within the existing signalling arrangements. Bearing in mind the extent of technical innovation it is not surprising that a number of problems have arisen. However, as a result of prompt and effective action on the part of both the railway and the railway supply industries, modifications have soon been introduced to eliminate the problems. The paper starts with a brief description of the train and the facilities provided to ensure adequate maintenance resources both within regional depots and railway workshops. This is followed by a review of experience to date and the paper concludes with a forecast about future trends in high speed operation.