Are the 125 HST as fast as the new pendolinos and Voyager trains?
Firstly, only the 125 is the HST, the name 225 refers to the electric Class 91 loco and Mk4 coaches that run exclusively on the East Coast Main Line. Pendolinos run exclusively on the West Coast Main Line. HST and Voyager trains are operated by more than one TOC, and they operate on many different parts of the National Rail network (HSTs more so than Voyagers). Daily, HSTs operate as far north as Inverness and as far west as Penzance – nearly 40 years after its introduction, it’s still the “go-to” train for general purpose long distance work! Both the 125 and the 225 are “legacy” train designs however, and no more will ever be built. If one wants to build new trains, there are now far better and more modern designs available. Back in the 70s and 80s, before speed limits were strictly enforced, the HSTs did sometimes reach speeds of 140mph in normal service.
