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May 10, 2012

An index is in production that will indicate articles that have appeared in "Milepost". An initial version is in the "Milepost - online" section of the website, which covers articles from Milepost 27 to 33. To analyse further, click on the relevant arrow on line 1, and select the categories you require. Feedback would be appreciated

April 1, 2012

Modern Locomotives Illustrated

The Railway Performance Society is pleased to announce that data from its vast archive of locomotive and train performance logs has been published in the latest edition of Modern Locomotives Illustrated magazine – The Electrostar Family now on sale. - Why not buy it and take a look at the RPS logs.

March 18, 2012

Open Train Times

The Open Train Times website has been added at the foot of the link section of the website.

This site shows WTT details for all passenger trains. It is hoped that freight and ECS trains will be added later, They also expect to add actual data later.

To access passing times in the WTT by location, select "search", "location" and "option" (top right of screen) and then "detailed" options.

October 12, 2010

Beginners Guide - for download

A Beginners Guide to Train Timing, written by John Heaton, is available for download.

The file is located on the left-hand side bar.

June 27, 2010

Preserved Steam AGM Talk - Document Now Online

The RPS is pleased to announce that a document containing the contents of our AGM talk : Steam - Should we take it seriously? - is now online within the AGM 2010 pages.

The document and three appendices are available for all RPS members to download. The documents are for private use only and not for reproduction or distribution without prior consent of the author or the RPS.

April 12, 2010

RPS AGM Notices and Reports Online NOW

Notices and reports pertaining to the Railway Performance Society Ltd's annual General Meeting are found on the following links:

Please click over the text to open up the relevant document

1) AGM 2010 Papers

http://www.railperf.org.uk/AGM2010/AGM-PAPERS-2010.doc

2) Annual Report 2009

http://www.railperf.org.uk/AGM2010/annual-report-2009.doc

3) AGM 2009 Minutes

http://www.railperf.org.uk/AGM2010/RPS_AGM_2009_MINUTES.doc

March 19, 2010

RPS Class 57 Performance logs to be featured in Modern Locomotives Illustrated magazine

RPS members are warmly invited to submit suitable logs and accompanying commentary for future editions of the magazine. Please contact us at press.office at railperf.org.uk, or use the contact button on the website.

Next articles to feature in MLI are:

· Issue 182 - The Class 57s - On sale 26 March 2010, contributions required no later than 1 Dec 2009 - Now complete

· Issue 183 - The Eastern Region Electric Units - On sale 28 May 2010, contributions required no later than 1 Feb 2010 - Now complete

· Issue 184 - The Class 33s - On sale 30 July 2010, contributions required no later than 1 Apr 2010

· Issue 185 - The BTC and BR Prototype Locomotives - On sale 24 September 2010, contributions required no later than 1 June 2010

· Issue 186 - the Classes 14, 15, 16, and 17 Locomotives - On sale 26 November 2010, contributions required no later than 1 August 2010

· Issue 187 - The Class 56 Locomotives - On sale 28 January 2011, contributions required no later than 1 October 2010

· Issue 188 - The Class 67 Locomotives - On sale 25 March 2011, contributions required no later than 1 December 2010

· Issue 189 - The Class 30-31 Locomotives - On sale 27 May 2011, contributions required no later than 1 February 2011

February 9, 2010

117.5mph ECML average speed submitted to RPS database is UK's fastest recorded passenger service

The fastest average speed ever recorded by an RPS member aboard a domestic train service carrying fare paying passengers is now 117.5mph. The journey log recorded on 15 August 1991 aboard the 11:00 Kings Cross to Edinburgh Class 91 locomotive no 91021 and 8 Mk IVcoaches over 112.1 miles between Peterborough and York - journey time 57 minutes 16 seconds. The log was recorded on service, but only recently submitted because the recorder only recently joined the RPS.

The previous record of 116.3mph was also set on the ECML between London Kings Cross and York - underlining the line's heritage for high-speed running.

Both runs were set in the 1990's at a time when longer non-stop journeys were possible, and the ECML did not have the capacity problems that we experience today, caused by huge passenger demand for services. However, some ECML average speeds recorded in the last few years have been as high as 114mph - mainly Hull trains services which utilise the powerful class 222 and 180 diesel trains. Although these trains run at the same 125mph service speeds as the older HST and Class 91 trains, their superior acceleration and braking mean they outperform anything else on the ECML today.

WCML average speeds on the rise

The newly modernised 125mph West Coast Main Line (WCML) with its high-performance Pendolino 125mph trainsets is starting to catch up with the ECML in terms of average speeds. The fastest average speed recorded to date on the WCML is now 115.5mph recorded in September 2009 between Watford Junction and Coventry. Unit 390035 reeled off the 76.58 miles in 39 min 45 seconds. The new timetable coupled to the high-performance of Pendolino trains and drivers’ confidence and familiarity with the trains means that higher average speeds are expected. The RPS has now recorded 110mph+ average speeds over more than half a dozen station to station sections of the WCML, with dozens more now exceeding 100mph.

HS1 - 110mph average speeds being achieved

Records of journeys over Britain’s' first domestic high-speed service are starting to filter into the RPS from its members. Despite running at speeds of up to 140mph, the relatively short station to station sections means that the highest average speed recorded so far is a shade less than 112mph for the 33.38 miles between Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International in Kent.

Great Western Main Line services - which were once some of the fastest in Britain, have now dropped back to fourth place in the league of Britain’s fastest trains. The fastest GWML average start-to-stop speeds of around 111mph were set back in the 1980's. Current services are constrained by extra stops, capacity issues and extra speed restrictions - particularly at London and Reading. The HST sets which still ply the route have additional vehicles inserted into their formations, lowering their power to weight ratio and blunting performance. Notably - one of the few 100mph+ average speeds to be achieved on GWML metals in modern times was recorded aboard a Class 180 DMU. These trains have since been dispensed with by First Great Western and now ply their trade on the ECML on Hull trains and Grand Central services.

The fastest Eurostar average speed between two UK railway stations still shows what could be achieved if a high-speed line were to be built to the north. A 123.6mph (199.1km/h) average speed was recorded over the 56 miles between Ashford International and London St Pancras in February 2008.

February 7, 2010

RPS Class 47 performance logs published in Modern Locomotives Illustrated