Latest Rail News

29.05.13

Virgin proposes 135mph running on WCML in Scotland

Virgin Trains is proposing an upgrade of the WCML near Lockerbie for 135mph running, which would make it the fastest stretch of conventional railway in the UK.

The operator says it is considering introducing the first non-stop train between Scotland and London since the 1930s to cut journeys from Glasgow to under four hours.

According to the Scotsman newspaper, chief operating officer Chris Gibb told a business breakfast that it would be a “fabulous headline journey time” and would “capture the public imagination.”

He added: “That would be fantastic for Scotland, to have the fastest conventional railway in the UK. Between Lancaster and Glasgow there has been a degree of upgrade, but huge potential.”

Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]

Comments

Rotciv Werdlem   31/05/2013 at 13:10

More Beardie Bluster? Sounds like it's just another Virgin publicity stunt!

C Jacquier   31/05/2013 at 20:11

TPWS+ will not do it and an ATP is required over 125mph. Of course, and additional 10mph might be perceived as within a margin of error and he could even achieve 140mph by the same measure, the speed originally planned for WCML! But his GPS will tell him without that margin of error - and so will everybody else's on the train.

Kidd M.   31/05/2013 at 21:02

A good friend of mine used to work in the Vermin Trains press office. He said they all used to laugh when the press picked up on some of their more ridiculous stories as they mainly comprised 10% fact and 90% something male cattle produce in large quantities!

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