According to the MD of Avanti (current West Coast operator)'s owners, “This record attempt shows how effectively rail can deliver cross-Border connectivity.” I'm not sure how much a one-off stunt shows this but it could well be latched onto by anti-HS2▸ campaigners as further proof that a new High Speed line isn't needed.
Double edged sword ... current fastest scheduled train (today) is 4 hours and 39 minutes, with 9 stops. It includes 14 minutes of engineering and pathing allowance, 2 minutes of which are in the final Motherwell to Glasgow Central leg
18:30 London Euston
20:14 Warrington Bank Quay
20:25 Wigan North Western
20:41 Preston (Lancs)
20:55 Lancaster
21:10 Oxenholme Lake District
21:35 Penrith
21:50 Carlisle
22:09 Lockerbie
22:53 Motherwell
23:09 Glasgow Central
A proof-of-concept sub - 4 hour run (4 hours 15 minutes with Crewe, Preston and Carlisle stops) is perhaps useful when looking to update services to offer a more appropriate alternative to flying. But having said that, the trips I have made on the London to Glasgow expresses are notable by how few people are making the full journey; is that because theyre's not the whole-journey traffic or because it's not serviced properly?