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Comment by VBprogrammer | Hacker News Reader

Its a little sad that repeating the exercise today shows little improvement over 30 years ago. The HST125 is still the fastest diesel train in the world (the actual video was likely taken from a Diesel Multiple Unit which are lighter and more efficient but not faster), those lines are still not electrified little has changed in train signalling with most of the improvements in train control being to centralise it rather than actually improving the rail service.

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That line is actually electrified in all 3 videos, just not with conventional overhead caternary. Southeast England is one of the few places in the world that uses 3rd rail power outside of mass transit metros. You can clearly see the rail just outside of the running rail in all the videos.

Ah, you got me. Not a true train buff :)

Does Essex count as Southeast England? Because the LTS (C2C) line is overhead-electrified. So is HS1.

More formally, I think they should have referred to trains that depart from London's southern termini? (Victoria, Waterloo, Cannon St, London Bridge, Charing Cross).

All of southern England does - South West train services use a third rail as well, at least on most services - some of the ones to Basingstoke are diesel-powered, but definitely Devon, Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey have electric rails.

No, it's not.

The Talgo XXI does 159mph, and the Russian TEP80 did over 168mph in a test run, which is even preserved on video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwYXjxXFha0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWDdNe_zx5A

Interesting, however all of the references I could find still quote the HST125 as the official record holder. I expect due to one technicality or another.

Apart from the fact those lines are all electrified, the problem on the London-Brighton stretch is not so much train speed as it is line capacity and reliability.

South of East Croydon a substantial stretch is just double track (one in each direction), though most of the line has four tracks (which still makes for a massive chokepoint if a train fails) , and many of the stations have very few platforms and no extra track for trains to pass on. North of East Croydon, there's massive capacity problems on the approach to London Bridge, and on the path from London Bridge in to Charing Cross.

The result is that the slightest little impact to the time table at half a dozen points or more along the line have carry on effects along the entire line.

Increasing the speed of the trains would be great, but without upgrading capacity the slightest little problem would force a lot of following trains to slow down anyway.

EDIT: Apparently the "third rail" is also a problem for increasing speeds.

Bombadier Voyager units (class 220-222) are rated to the same speed.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_Voyager_family

They're much more comfortable and quieter than the 125's (43's + mk3s) plus they don't give you a face full of fumes when they start up or scare your children :)

In all honesty I prefer the HST125. Part of that is nostalgia, the HST125 is a great example of technology from the golden age of British Engineering which, like the Route-master bus, outlived several generations of successors. The other part is the Voyager fleet in my experience always smell of toilet.

Until it crashes and then you are fucked. No crumple zones in the vestibules.

The route master gave many people lung cancer who worked at the depots, my father included.

I was fortunate to be working in the centre of Newcastle around 2007 when the last of the Valenta-engined 125s were in service, and I'd hear the north-bound trains pulling out of the station. But since then they've changed to newer diesel engines, and they don't have that glorious screaming turbocharger anymore.

Here's what it sounded like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H-WKRIXynQ

Yeah, I know that sound well. It's a sound I strongly associate with Edinburgh train-station having taken the final leg of the Kings-cross service back to Glasgow many times while at University.

Apparently the sound of the Valenta engine was used a clip in a song but I've never figured out which one.

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