Almost record-breaking train snapped speeding through Leyland

The almost record breaking train passing through Leyland. Pic: Andrea Ward

An attempt to break the 36-year-old record for the fastest train journey between London and Glasgow failed by just 21 seconds after earlier speeding through Leyland.

Avanti West Coast’s Royal Scot train arrived at Glasgow Central three hours, 53 minutes and one second after its departure from London Euston, according to the operator.

The nine-carriage Pendolino train travelled non-stop at an average speed of 103mph on the 401-mile route and it passed through Leyland on its travels.

Avanti West Coast has named one of its Pendolino trains ‘Royal Scot’ to mark a record attempt with Network Rail for the fastest journey between London and Glasgow.

Royal Scot made its inaugural journey on 17 June with a non-stop run from London Euston to Glasgow Central that aimed to beat a record of 3 hours 52 minutes and 40 seconds that was set in 1984 by an Advanced Passenger Train (APT) – the tilting high speed train developed by British Rail for the West Coast Main Line.

While the record was missed by just 21 seconds the collaborative efforts of Avanti West Coast and Network Rail enabled the nine-carriage Pendolino to travel at an average speed of 103 mph during the journey.

The record run is the latest project to be carried out by Avanti West Coast and Network Rail. It follows the delivery of additional upgrade works while the rail network was quieter with fewer trains.

These upgrades aim to make journeys more reliable as the industry welcomes back passengers.

Sir Peter Hendy, Chairman of Network Rail, said: “Yesterday marked a brilliant collaboration across the railway industry. This this event shows how the clean, green railway of today can cement economic growth, jobs, housing and social cohesion through better connectivity across the United Kingdom.

“There will be more on better connectivity by rail and faster journey times between England and Scotland when I publish my final Union Connectivity Report for the Prime Minister in the summer.”

Avanti West Coast collaborated with Government-owned Network Rail, which manages rail infrastructure, to plot the train’s path around passenger and freight services on the West Coast Main Line.

The train carried rail industry VIPs and subscribers to The Railway Magazine, who made a charitable donation.

The money raised will go towards Avanti West Coast’s charity partner, Action for Children, and the Railway Benefit Fund, which supports people involved in the railway and their families.