The Anonymous Widower

Are These Trains The Key To Improved Rail Services in The UK?

I must admit I’ve been critical of the Hitachi Super Express Train to be built in the North East of England.

As an engineer, I don’t like the idea of an electro-diesel version, that lugs diesel engines around, so it can be self-propelled on non-electrified lines.

I also feel, that the last government wanted the project for overtly political reasons and hence the decision to build the trains in the North East.

But now the orders are being made for both the Class 800 and Class 801 trains, I’m warming to the project.

This is partly because, I have travelled into Kent several times by the Class 395 trains, which are to a similar design by Hitachi, as proposed for the Class 800 and Class 801. Although, they are probably less grand, as they are essentially commuter trains. But even these humbler trains have a top speed of 225 kph, which is the same as the Inter City 225 units on the East Coast Main Line.

If all of the improvements to the East Coast Main Line detailed here are implemented, then the line could be a 225 kph four-track line all the way from London to Newcastle.

The major problems then to adding capacity and obtaining that speed most of the way, are the slower 160 kph trains, that run from London to Cambridge and Peterborough and share the lines to the north of York and Doncaster. But if these units like the current Class 365 and Class 185 were replaced with another electrical multiple unit from the same 800/801 family capable of working at 225 kph, this problem would be alleviated.

If we look at the West Coast Main Line, the Class 390 Pendelions could travel on a lot of the line at 225 kph with improved signalling, but again they are held up by other slower services. in fact, there is talk of ordering more mini-Pendelinos to serve places like Holyhead, Chester, Blackpool and Shrewsbury.

Once the Great Western Main Line is fully electrified to Bristol and South Wales, it should be a 225 kph railway, virtually run by the 800/801 family of trains, with a few Inter City 125s, still working down to Devon and Cornwall. So I suspect we’ll see the Oxford, Cheltenham and Worcester services run by faster trains to reduce capacity constraints.

But all this does show again, how by running more 225 kph trains under better signalling systems, with probably more selective quadruple tracking can greatly increase the capacity on our railways.

It could be argued than one of the successes of the Inter City 125s, is that because there are so many they can be moved between operators and reconfigured easily for changing circumstances. If ever there was a chameleon train, it is these.

i suspect that if we had a large number of 800/801 trains or in fact any other type, then this would make them cheaper to purchase and support and probably more reliable. We have too many one route only classes of trains.

So what other lines could benefit from 225 kph trains, such as the 800/801 family?

Obviously, the East Midland Main Line is a candidate, especially as there have been plans to make a lot of the line capable of speeds of 200 kph.  It would be an easier and earlier way to substantially speed up journey times to Sheffield. Dual voltage versions of the 800/801 family aren’t proposed, but the closely related Class 395 can run on overhead wires or third rail.  So could we see a high-speed service from Sheffield to Brighton, through the Thameslink tunnels, stopping in Central London and Gatwick Airport?

The Great Eastern Main Line on the other hand is probably not a candidate, as it is only a 160 kph line, as like most East Anglian infrastructure, it was built on the cheap.  But the line is crying out for new trains and I have heard that electrical multiple units would save time to Ipswich and Norwich.

The Trans Pennine Lines are a disgrace and at least are scheduled for electrification. As the trains using these lines often travel over the East and West Coast Main lines, faster trains are needed for some routes like Liverpool to Newcastle and Glasgow to Manchester.

I would also electrify the Chiltern Line to Birmingham and replace the third rail systems south of London to perhaps, Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth. For freight purposes this is being done partly already.

So I think we’ll see lots of the 800/801 family of high speed trains.

August 18, 2013 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | First Great Western Trains, Trains