Pendolino 135mph running

[SkinnyDave]

I have been re reading a lot about last years WCML franchise fiasco

Virgin stated they wanted to invest money to run at 135 mph at certain sections

Has this ever been tested since 390s intro to service and where would they realistically get up to that speed in normal service?

 

[yorkie]

I think you may find the answers on this forum:

• 135mph WCML
• WCML Inside Knowledge Required If Possible

(more results...)

Trains have to be tested to something like 10% above their top speed, and in normal service no Pendolino will be reaching 135mph - I believe they may well be limited, and these days it's all logged by OTMR etc...

 

[Lrd]

I thought Pendos could do 140mph, obviously only with in cab signaling so they should be able to do 154mph including the 10%.

 

[SkinnyDave]

if you read the links Yorkie posted it gives you a lot of information.

I dont think it will have much of a difference by the looks of it

 

[yorkie]

I thought Pendos could do 140mph, obviously only with in cab signaling so they should be able to do 154mph including the 10%.

Yes, that is the design speed, but not currently permitted in normal service. It has been stated that the limiter is currently set to 129mph.

 

[notadriver]

TASS will intervene if the speed exceeds 3 mph above the line speed. So even though trains could go a few mph above 125 mph, they never do. Train drivers are professional and nowadays do not break speed limits.

 

[WatcherZero]

What about the performance hit of the lengthening?

 

[notadriver]

One of the extra vehicles is powered so apparently performance is only slightly down on a 9 car set.

 

[The Planner]

11 cars only make a difference at slow exits to stations, New St is the only place it has been spotted as making a slight issue.

 

[Aldaniti]

I have been re reading a lot about last years WCML franchise fiasco

Virgin stated they wanted to invest money to run at 135 mph at certain sections

Has this ever been tested since 390s intro to service and where would they realistically get up to that speed in normal service?

You might just find that what Virgin want to do is invest other people's money in this project rather their own. I have no problem with this as long as excessive timetable padding is removed at the same time.

 

[The Planner]

It is pretty much dead in the water, if they were going to get 135mph they would have by now. You will never stop operators putting +5 in the public timetable at destination either.

 

[rebmcr]

I think 390s will probably see 140mph in service eventually, but as the result of standard ERTMS rollout, not any special investment.

 

[aylesbury]

I think that 125mph is okay for the WCML a higher speed would be adding to maintainence costs that are already very high.Passengers want reliable on time services and that is what Virgin are delivering.

 

[TDK]

TASS will intervene if the speed exceeds 3 mph above the line speed. So even though trains could go a few mph above 125 mph, they never do. Train drivers are professional and nowadays do not break speed limits.

To be fair pendos' have cruise control so once the set gets to 125mph the driver presses a button and it stays there - not the same sort of skill as getting a flat liner from a 158 at 90mph on an OTMR.