InterCity 225 - Service History

Service History

The InterCity 225 entered service with British Rail on the East Coast Main Line in 1990. The units also operate on a small section of the West Coast Main Line between Glasgow and Carstairs. In 1996, as part of the privatisation of British Rail, all InterCity 225s were sold to HSBC Rail, which currently leases them to the government owned East Coast.

The InterCity 225 has a top service speed of 140 mph (225 km/h); during a test run on Stoke Bank between Peterborough and Grantham an Intercity 225 reached 162.6 mph (261.7 km/h). However, except on High Speed 1, which is equipped with cab signalling, British signalling does not normally allow trains to exceed 125 mph (201 km/h), due to the impracticality of observing lineside signals at high speed.

The Advanced Passenger Train of the early 1980s used a new hydrokinetic braking system to allow it to brake from 155 mph (249 km/h) within existing signalling distances. It is believed that the InterCity 225 project was originally to be called APT-U, but this name was dropped after older APT-P trains were not considered a success and that APT branding would tarnish the reputation of the new High Speed Train.

Between 2001 and April 2006, HSBC Rail (IC225 owner) initiated and funded with support from GNER and Bombardier Transportation and Alstom and others a complete rebuilding and refurbishment programme for both the Class 91 and Mark 4 coaches, called Project Mallard. See British Rail Mark 4 for more details.

The Intercity Express Programme to replace Intercity 125 trains also includes an option for 30 units which would replace the Intercity 225 trains on the East Coast.