Record

[locojoe]

French set new world record. I don't know if anybody seen this, if you want to have a look here's the link.
Alan Locojoe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ir_n3J5ABA

[locojoe]

High speed - we can do it, too

Posted 1 May 2007 09:00 | From Railnews print edition, May 2007


It would be churlish not to congratulate French railwaymen and women on their world speed record for rail.

No doubt, however, it will start the moaners about Britain's railway complaining "why can't we do it".

But the high-speed speed runs that have been achieved in the UK are arguably more valid and realistic. The French train was shortened, souped-up, and running with a power supply boosted by 20 per cent. It was running on a brand new - but specially fettled - and empty railway.

A contrast indeed with Virgin's record-breaking Glasgow-London Pendolino run last September. That was a standard, fully-loaded, train, running within standard parameters - including speed restrictions - on a busy railway (albeit, no doubt, with a few exceptional control decisions).

So three cheers to the French.

And three cheers, too, for the Brits who run a fast and frequent service everyday on what is still Europe's busiest mixed traffic railway.

[swisstrains]

What the article says is correct although Virgins claims for its Pendolino run are regarded by many as misleading. The APT in 1984 actually did it quicker but in the opposite direction, from Euston to Glasgow.
Without purpose built high-speed lines and with its high dependence on diesel power, Britain can no longer be regarded as a player in World speed record attempts. These speed records have now become publicity tools for the big rail manufacturers like Siemens and Alstom and always take place on dedicated high-speed lines using electric traction.
Even if we were to utilise the Channel Tunnel Rail Link for the purposes of setting some sort of record where would we obtain the train or locomotive? With no real train manufacturing facilities in the U.K, the chances are it would have to be foreign which makes any record attempt a bit of a waste of time.

[locojoe]

I fully agree with you John.
Alan Locojoe