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Trains that rarely reach their top speed

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class26

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Max line speed in Cornwall is 85 in just one section, in one direction so that's 125mph 43s,220s,221s covered !

Where?
Ive scoured Network rail documents and the highest speed in Cornwall i can find is 75 mph close to Penzance
 

8J

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Northern 319s don't have any routes for more than 90mph currently.

Between Euxton Balshaw Lane and Wigan North Western the 319's can easily hit 100mph and the line speed permits this there. It is the only place that I'm aware of as the chat moss has a mostly 90mph limit and the St. Helens line is a mere 60!
 

philthetube

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With the new signalling, Northern Line current attains 50 mph in various places.

Under the old signalling, the highest permitted speed was 45 mph, between East Finchley and High Barnet, however it wasn't uncommon for trains to reach 60 mph or more on the downhill run from High Barnet to Totteridge - unofficially of course - and normally accompanied by a beautiful smell of burning brakes after stopping at Totteridge!

Shouldn't be any burning brakes as friction brakes only cut in at 7mph.

I wonder how many stocks are capable of higher speeds than declared but are kept slower because of cost or gearing. Back on the underground S stock comes to mind.
 

paul1609

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Maximum linespeed even on the fasts is 70mph on this section.

Southern 377s (excluding those that go up the WCML) never make 100mph.
They also go to Bedford on the Midland Main Line and to Hastings on hire to SouthEastern, Sevenoaks to Tonbridge is "EMU 100".
 

Strathclyder

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Aside from the Airdrie-Edinburgh Park stretch of the North Clyde Line, I don't think there are any other sections of line within their day-to-day sphere of operations on which the 334s can fully exploit their 90mph capability.
 
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pompeyfan

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But surely that's based solely on gravity having a downward effect. Only rollercoasters have trains with a true vertical decent, the vertical onces accelerate much quicker than that.
 

Peter0124

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I suspect the 314s on the Cathcart Circle rarely reach 30mph. Only opportunity to stretch their legs is between Whitecraigs and Neilston or the occasional sortie on the Inverclyde lines.
Similar to the 318s/320s on the Argyle line after rutherglen, don't think they've been above 60mph and they are 40 mph in the tunnels. 90 mph trains.

And as for the cathcart circle, the class 385 will be operating it after 2018 and they are 100MPH TRAINS using a 50mph max route.
 

craigybagel

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Nothing higher than 90mph on Holyhead-Cardiff/Manchester.
The LHCS also takes loco differentials which limits speeds Chester-Craven Arms compared to DMUs.
Not all of them - it's allowed to run at MU speeds for some of them - I believe its the ones south of Shrewbury.


ATW 175s get to 100mph only between Sandbach and Stockport on Cardiff-Manchester, and a short section through Pyle in South Wales.

Pedantic I know but there's also the Sunday only 175 to Birmingham and back via Stafford. I'm also not sure about the daily trips to Birmingham International every morning - I've not had chance to check the speedometer on that one but if it gets a a clear run I reckon it'd get close.....


Maximum linespeed even on the fasts is 70mph on this section.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading that LO drivers don't sign the fast lines anyway so 60mph is their limit.
However, aren't there some ECS trips from Willesden Depot to Euston booked to run via the WCML slow lines (and not the DC) for 378s? If so, with a clear run they may well make it to 75.
 

godfreycomplex

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DLR stock doesn't get up to 60 very often (and with the small wheels it'd be terrifying if they did!)
 

Peter Mugridge

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DLR stock doesn't get up to 60 very often (and with the small wheels it'd be terrifying if they did!)

Before Langdon Park station was built there was a very long straight stretch without any stops and speed certainly reached at least 50mph if not more on this bit.
 

najaB

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DLR stock doesn't get up to 60 very often (and with the small wheels it'd be terrifying if they did!)
Between Shadwell and Bank it feels like they must be getting up there. Slightly scary heading down the tunnels at speed with no driver.
 
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