Great Western Coffee Shop

1976: New train speeds into service


British Rail began its new 125mph High Speed Train (HST) service today. The first London-Bristol service arrived three minutes early.

The Inter-City 125 has been introduced to provide a regular high speed service between Cardiff, Bristol and London.

British Rail will extend the HST service to other major cities over the next two years.

Powered by two diesel motors the Inter-City 125 has recorded a top speed of over 140mph in trial runs, making it the fastest diesel-powered train in the world.

Most other countries have developed electrically powered high-speed trains.

The cost of electrification on Britain's network was considered prohibitive so the diesel-powered 125 is a new product from existing technology.

In the absence of an official ceremony by British Rail to mark the occasion, few passengers were aware they were making history this morning as the first 0805 left Paddington on time.

New features

But most travellers did appreciate some improvement in comfort. The carriages feature aircraft-like seating, with sliding electric doors at each end.

Hot food is served quickly from an on-board kitchen with the aid of a state-of-the-art microwave oven.

Rail bosses are hopeful the improved service, which has been introduced without a rise in fares, will bring in more business.

Increased fares over the last two years have been linked to a fall in passenger traffic of 15 to 20%.

High Speed Train: 1976

Points West can lay claim to many achievements, including having British Rail name one of their fleet of 125 High Speed locomotives after the programme. In 1976 they launched the new service and Points West was there to try it out.

On the 4th October 1976, with little ceremony or fuss, British Rail launched its high speed 125 Inter-City service on the line between London and Bristol.

Naturally, and despite the low profile inaugural run, the Points West cameras joined the first few passengers to gauge for themselves just what the new service was like.

What strikes you when watching the film is just how few passengers there are.

Admittedly, it^s an 8am service leaving the capital for Bristol but even in 1976 there must have been reason to visit the West Country.

In the report we hear from the passengers, who, apart from one colonial cousin from the States hasn^t really got anything bad to say about day one of the new service.  But give it time, and things would end up very different!

It is strange the things you forget ^ First Great Western^s fleet of carriages have obviously been much overhauled, but watching this film brings back the colour of the seats and that square knob on top of each aisle-side seat designed to help you steady yourself.

Of course, one of the criticisms levelled at the rail operator today is just how unsteady the ride is nowadays ^ years of poor investment is offered as a reason and it must be said that seeing the first 125 in action, the ride does appear to be a great deal smoother.

Another revelation is the fabulous cooked breakfast being prepared by a full-blown chef ^ even if he is using a microwave oven to produce the goods.

Even greater things are to come ^ such as then witnessing the said breakfasts being served by a neatly turned out waitress ^ oh, as well as the train arriving three minutes head of schedule at Bristol Temple Meads.

Apparently the new service managed to shave of 15 minutes from the timetable, although, as the film tells us (as if it was some big secret), the record time was achieved by having three fewer stops.

Now those were the days, weren^t they?

Did the buffet, from where you purchased your burger, look like this?

Not sure what 1st Class passengers had done to deserve orange velour. Looks the same colour as 1970's Kia-Ora before they stopped using tartrazine.

I've done the best I can with the video from the 1976 BBC Points West news report. Original quality was terrible and enlarging hasn't helped, but I've smoothed out the worst of the pixelating and visual artifacts. More powerful software than I have at my disposal would be needed to improve further.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySyFzWgLt_4

Not sure what 1st Class passengers had done to deserve orange velour. Looks the same colour as 1970's Kia-Ora before they stopped using tartrazine.

Thanks for that bnm - so much easier to view your version than go through the pain of installing Real Player (if indeed you can on Windows 8).

...(if indeed you can on Windows 8).

A poster from 1977 as on display at the National Railway Museum - some interesting journey times there....

High Speed Trains were the last trains conceived and designed by the old BR CM&EE engineers (ie "old BR" not "old engineers") before "Business Management"  - InterCity, Provincial etc - came along and gave us such gems as Pacers etc.

Still the most successful trains ever built, and still the comfortable trains in the country to travel in.

Gordon
(er... an "old BR" CM&EE engineer)

CM&EE = Chief Mechanical and Electrical Engineer

Bristol may get closer to 85 minutes when IEP comes along with the non-stop after Parkway service

I believe when Reading is finally completed, line speed through a few platforms will be raised to 100mph.

Now you are asking!  I remember the colour scheme and I remember the uniforms.  Didn't they experiment with draught beer from the buffet at one point?

All of which would be totally unaffordable luxuries in a new train, despite the fact that as a nation we are now twice as wealthy as was the case then.

In a community where public services have failed to keep abreast of private consumption things are very different. Here, in an atmosphere of private opulence and public squalor, the private goods have full sway.