http://www.virgintrainsmediaroom.com/index.cfm?articleid=947
Virgin smashes Glasgow-London speed record
Virgin Trains today achieved a new train speed record on the 401-mile
route from Glasgow-London with a non-stop journey time of three hours
and 55 minutes an impressive average speed of 102.5 mph beating
the previous verified southbound speed record of four hours and 14
minutes set by British Rail's Advanced Passenger Train in the 1980s.
Today's record was set by the 12:37 special Pendolino from Glasgow
Central to London, with over 400 passengers on board, which arrived
at Euston station at 16:32. It was the first non-stop run between
Glasgow and London since 1949, and the first ever sub-four hour
southbound Glasgow to London journey.
The nine-car 439-seat electric Pendolino emits a carbon footprint of
only 28 grammes per kilometre compared to the 215 grammes per
kilometre of a BMW Three Series five-seat car. Its regenerative
braking system returns up to 1,500 kWh of electricity to the power
lines on a journey between Glasgow and London through reverse thrust
traction motors and the 53-strong train fleet returns some 17 percent
of power used on the West Coast.
The special Pendolino was driven by Driver Russell Southworth, 40,
from Preston. He began his railway career as a railman at Preston in
1984 and began training as driver in the following year. He became a
traction trainee and driver's assistant before qualifying as driver
in 1988. Married for 18 years with a son and a daughter, Russell was
a plasterer before joining the railway, and following family
tradition of his father, grandfather and uncle. In becoming a driver
he fulfilled a childhood ambition.
The train was filled with over 400 Railway Magazine readers, all of
whom bought tickets following a Reader Offer in the September issue
of the IPC magazine. All ticket monies raised are being donated to
the Heaven's Angels campaign, which is supported by the Virgin Unite
charity and provides specially adapted motorbikes to deliver
healthcare to remote parts of Africa, where tracks are impassable for
cars. One health worker and a motorbike costing £5,000 can help save
20,000 lives a year.
Virgin Trains' Chairman Sir Richard Branson said: "This record run
has demonstrated the real potential of the upgrading of the West
Coast Main Line and the state-of-the-art Virgin Pendolino trains. It
has also raised over £30,000 for Heaven's Angels and I would like to
thank everyone who has supported the Heaven's Angels campaign -
Virgin Trains' staff, the staff and readers of The Railway Magazine
who promoted the train and our partners at Network Rail and ALSTOM
for all helping us to achieve a new Glasgow to London speed record".
Eric Preston, ALSTOM Transport UK Managing Director, said: "We are
now seeing what can be achieved with a world-beating train and a West
Coast Main Line upgrade.
"ALSTOM is pleased and very proud to have supported Virgin in this
record-breaking run which means that passengers can connect between
the centres of Glasgow and London in under four hours, quicker than
flying.
"Congratulations to Virgin. This is a real milestone for the UK
transport system.
"The availability of the Pendolino fleet is consistently meeting
Virgin's service requirements, and reliability is continually
improving. ALSTOM will continue to support Virgin to deliver an
exceptional service to passengers."
