RM Archive
FROM THE RAILWAY MAGAZINE ARCHIVES
100 YEARS AGO AUGUST 1923
Britain’s fastest train
THE 2.30pm express from Cheltenham has been accelerated by 10 minutes and now takes pride of place as having the fastest start-to-stop schedule on any British railway.
Hitherto, the honours in this connection have had to be shared by the North Eastern and Great Central sections of the London and North Eastern Railway, the former’s 8.59pm from Darlington to York being booked to cover the 44.1 miles in 43 minutes, and the latter’s 4.30am from Leicester to Arkwright Street, Nottingham, 22.6 miles in 22 minutes, both giving averages of 61.5mph.
The new Great Western schedule involves an average speed of 61.8mph and for a considerably greater distance.