HST (High Speed Train) 125 trains :: Shared Description
Written by Brian Robert Marshall
The HST 125 Inter-City trains had their genesis in the 1960s and, following trials, they came into service in 1976. They are diesel-electric and benefit from a high power-to-weight ratio meaning they can accelerate rapidly to their designed top speed of 125 mph (201 kph). They have been designed to be omni-directional so they don't need to be turned round at the end of each journey. There are driver's cabs and sets of red and white lights at each end. Replacements are on the horizon after almost 40 years and millions of miles but the timescale is uncertain not least because, on 26 February 2010, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis announced that an assessment of the multi-billion pound, 30-year procurement plan had been ordered. If the review is ultimately favourable, the likely replacement will be the Japanese Hitachi Super Express. Following withdrawal of the Class 180 'Adelante' after a brief period HST 125s will continue to be a regular feature on the railways for some time to come.
Update March 2015: see Link
update July 2018: the Hitachi Class 802 train sets are now in service, for the moment alongside the HST 125. Because the electrication programme has been truncated so that some lines due to be electrified now won't be for the foreseeable future these Hitachis will be 'bi-mode'. More here Link
Update May 2019: no more HST 125s in the West Country Link
The HST 125 Inter-City trains had their genesis in the 1960s and, following trials, they came into service in 1976. They are diesel-electric and benefit from a high power-to-weight ratio meaning they can accelerate rapidly to their designed top speed of 125 mph (201 kph). They have been designed to be omni-directional so they don't need to be turned round at the end of each journey. There are driver's cabs and sets of red and white lights at each end. Replacements are on the horizon after almost 40 years and millions of miles but the timescale is uncertain not least because, on 26 February 2010, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis announced that an assessment of the multi-billion pound, 30-year procurement plan had been ordered. If the review is ultimately favourable, the likely replacement will be the Japanese Hitachi Super Express. Following withdrawal of the Class 180 'Adelante' after a brief period HST 125s will continue to be a regular feature on the railways for some time to come.
Update March 2015: see Link

update July 2018: the Hitachi Class 802 train sets are now in service, for the moment alongside the HST 125. Because the electrication programme has been truncated so that some lines due to be electrified now won't be for the foreseeable future these Hitachis will be 'bi-mode'. More here Link

Update May 2019: no more HST 125s in the West Country Link

Related descriptions
- Airbus A400M long range military transport
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 2 images
- 'Spirit of the 60s' 02 October 2011 Dyrham Park
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 11 images
- The Cutteslowe Walls
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 11 images
- Chastleton House, Chastleton, Oxfordshire
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 38 images
- Alfred Williams 'The Hammerman Poet'
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 6 images
- Swindon to Cheltenham Railway
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 60 images
- Pickard’s Small Field, Gorse Hill, Swindon
By Brian Robert Marshall. Used on 7 images
- View all images using this description in the Browser | On a Map
- View all images using "HST (High Speed Train) 125 trains" Shared Description(s) | (Just this shared description)
- Find images mentioning the words [ HST (High Speed Train) 125 trains ] | (in the Browser)
These Shared Descriptions are common to multiple images. For example, you can create a generic description for an object shown in a photo, and reuse the description on all photos of the object. All descriptions are public and shared between contributors, i.e. you can reuse a description created by others, just as they can use yours.
Created: Fri, 19 Feb 2010, Updated: Fri, 31 May 2019
The 'Shared Description' text on this page is Copyright 2010 Brian Robert Marshall, however it is specifically licensed so that contributors can reuse it on their own images without restriction.