Longest stretch of 125mph?

[tornado]

Hi,

I was wondering where the longest uninterrupted stretch of 125mph running is in the UK? i.e. the section of the network in which that speed can be maintained for the longest duration without slowing down.

 

[Searle]

Peterborough - Grantham has a long stretch, where it was being discussed for 140mph running.

 

[Rich McLean]

Tilehurst - Swindon is another long stretch, if you're not stopping at Didcot (will soon be Reading High Level Junction - Swindon at 125mph)

 

[tornado]

thanks, is there a place where i can look up how many track miles/minutes those are?

 

[Darandio]

You could look up just about every mile in the country via here http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/10563.aspx

 

[Bald Rick]

At a guess it will be north portal of Watford tunnel to south portal of Kilsby tunnel. Must be around 50 miles.

Excluding HS1 of course.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

At a guess it will be north portal of Watford tunnel to south portal of Kilsby tunnel. Must be around 50 miles.

Excluding HS1 of course.

57m 24c if my maths is correct (19m 40c Watford (Fast) north portal to 76m 64c Kilsby south portal).

 

[PeterY]

57m 22c if my maths is correct (19m 40c Watford (Fast) north portal to 76m 64c Kilsby south portal).

Just out of pure interest, what are the line speeds though Watford Tunnel and Kilsby tunnel?

 

[Robertj21a]

57m 22c if my maths is correct (19m 40c Watford (Fast) north portal to 76m 64c Kilsby south portal).

Well, your maths were very nearly right !

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Well, your maths were very nearly right !

Corrected, thanks.

 

[Bald Rick]

Just out of pure interest, what are the line speeds though Watford Tunnel and Kilsby tunnel?

110mph

 

[plastictaffy]

57m 24c if my maths is correct (19m 40c Watford (Fast) north portal to 76m 64c Kilsby south portal).

There is a slack through Berko (up only, possibly?), and there is also a slight slack in the down direction only at Linslade

 

[Crossover]

I seem to recall there being a prolonged section on the fasts from some point north of York to somewhere near Northallerton via Thirsk. Not sure how long it is but runs on Train Sim are a bit tedious at times on it!

 

[Bald Rick]

There is a slack through Berko (up only, possibly?), and there is also a slight slack in the down direction only at Linslade

Not sure about that. There is for the Voyagers, but the Pendolinii go at full tilt. I may be wrong of course...

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Hi,

I was wondering where the longest uninterrupted stretch of 125mph running is in the UK? i.e. the section of the network in which that speed can be maintained for the longest duration without slowing down.

I think the 50 miles from Watford Tunnel to Weedon on the WCML is the longest (for 390 tilting trains).
You'd perhaps expect longer sections on the GWML and ECML but in fact they are shorter.
If the GWML allowed 125mph through Reading it would win hands down with 71.5 miles from Acton to near Swindon.
I can't remember what the line speeds will be at Reading once the remodelling is complete there.
The ECML keeps dipping below 125mph at awkward places - eg 100mph at Newark for the flat crossing, and to 120mph between St Neots and Huntingdon.

 

[jopsuk]

Are there any 125mph tunnels?

 

[plastictaffy]

Not sure about that. There is for the Voyagers, but the Pendolinii go at full tilt. I may be wrong of course...

Berko, or Linslade, or both??
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Northchurch Tunnel is. Possibly Stow Hill tunnel too - both locations on the WCML. Reading baldrick's post, it appears that there is at Linslade - for some trains anyway.

 

[HSTEd]

Technically since the question was the longest stretch of track in the UK where 125mph could be maintained - not where it is the actual linespeed.
How far is HS1 from Cheriton to the St Pancras approach?
Is it 125mph+ throughout (I believe it is but not sure?).

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There is a slack through Berko (up only, possibly?), and there is also a slight slack in the down direction only at Linslade

No, they're both 125mph now in the SA (for 390s).
Voyagers are limited to 110/115mph.
Weedon is 110/120 (221/390).
Speeds might go up at Watford Jn after the works complete, but there's still the tunnel at 110mph.
Like Kilsby, I think this is because of excessive pressure pulses at 125mph.
Linslade is single bore or paired with the slow, so not the same problem.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Are there any 125mph tunnels?

Northchurch, Linslade and Stowe Hill on the WCML, at least.

 

[Stampy]

Stoke Tunnel (100.39) to Werrington Junction (79.34) is a good run downhill....

 

[tornado]

many useful replies!

does anyone know what % of the intercity network is 125mph? I'm presuming this has increased over the years.

and of course, the most significant way to improve journey times is to improve the slow sections rather than raise the top speed.

 

[Kier]

Do trains slow down when passing through stations?

When waiting for trains at Newark and Grantham I have wondered how fast the trains are.

 

[Failed Unit]

Do trains slow down when passing through stations?

When waiting for trains at Newark and Grantham I have wondered how fast the trains are.

Hard to tell, the reason I am not giving you a straight answer is at Newark Northgate you have the flat crossing so they will be doing circa 100mph (as it has a restriction). Grantham has a curve and it is possible they are also slowing for the tunnel. Northallerton I wouldn't be surprised if it is passed at 125mph. Certainly some of the stations between Peterborough and London will be done at 125mph.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Do trains slow down when passing through stations?

Not usually, no. There will be stations with a lower speed due to geography (on a curve, on a viaduct or something else specific) but the vast majority of stations in the country don't affect line speed. There are scores of stations which trains pass through at 125mph.

 

[adrock1976]

Would the Trent Valley Railway be in with a good shout between Rugby TV Junction and Colwich, using the middle pair of tracks?

In peace

Adam

 

[Kier]

Not usually, no. There will be stations with a lower speed due to geography (on a curve, on a viaduct or something else specific) but the vast majority of stations in the country don't affect line speed. There are scores of stations which trains pass through at 125mph.

I am guessing Retford is one of them.

 

[Marton]

I seem to recall there being a prolonged section on the fasts from some point north of York to somewhere near Northallerton via Thirsk. Not sure how long it is but runs on Train Sim are a bit tedious at times on it!

The map in the sectional appendix on network rail website shows 125 from 1m 09ch to Darlington south where it is 90 at 43 42.

Then up to 125 to 48 00
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Do trains slow down when passing through stations?

When waiting for trains at Newark and Grantham I have wondered how fast the trains are.

Grantham 100 each direction. Newark shown as 125 each direction but must be accelerating/braking for the 100 flat crossing! Similarly Retford 125 bit with 120 just south of the platforms.

 

[A-driver]

Do trains slow down when passing through stations?

When waiting for trains at Newark and Grantham I have wondered how fast the trains are.

Not for any reason to do with a station being there. Some stations will have speed restrictions due to unrelated reasons but if a station is located on a 125mph stretch then trains will pass through at 125, signals permitted. They won't slow down due to the platform.

Stations like Stevenage, biggleswade and St Neots which have platforms on the 125mph fast lines will see trains passing through at 125mph very regularly.

 

[Hadders]

I believe the line speed on the fasts through Stevenage is 125mph.

The non-stop express trains certainly go through at a fair pace. In fact on Friday the platform announcer made an announcement telling the 'woman on her mobile phone standing between the yellow line and the edge of platform 2' to get back behind the yellow line.

Thankfully she moved. An East Coast express hurtled through just seconds later.

 

[driver_m]

Berko is 115/125 for 221/390. Same at linslade. Its also 115 eps on the down fast at Watford tunnel. (Sorry lnw-gw I missed your post)