Advanced Passenger Train
Advanced Passenger Train
APT-E
There are many sites out there that will give you a detailed history of the APT, ever since the Beeching cuts in the 1960's British Rail was looking for a way to increase the speed of travel, particularly on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) Passenger numbers had plummeted since the end of the war, BR were looking to entice people back onto the railways, Issues with a ageing and creaking infrastructure that had not seen much updating since the turn of the century. BR created a group to begin the development of what would become the Advanced Passenger Train. The APT-E as it is named was the first purpose built prototype and came into testing 25th July 1972 and was powered by turbine engines, this design made good a lot of the issues that had been found in testing on the test bed frames. It was retired in 1976 after attaining several speed records including 152.3mph between Swindon and Reading in August 1975. Throughout this time BR engineers were looking to move into an electric version. Also the issues of cant and tilting. I could also talk about superelevation and all the technical sides of APT, however I will not. The design was improved and a new PAT was born, the APT-P
APT-P
The APT-P was born in 1977, the first power car emerged from works in Derby, by this time APT had faced strong competition from another project HST which came into being in 1970, BR had decided to use the
technology already gained from APT into a turbine powered non tilting train, the High Speed Train (HST) So HST was coming into service as the APT-P was beginning trails.
Immediately apparent was the issue of the power cars being in the middle of the train, this meant that the train was cut in two and needed 2 of everything, for example buffet cars. One at the front and one at the rear. Testing was delayed with late delivery of cars making up the train and this meant it was 1979 before real testing could begin. Another problem was the train was travelling so fast that drivers could not react to lines speed changes fast enough, so a network of sensors were
introduced on the WCML, these in turn spoke to an on board computer that automatically applied the brakes if required. This was a ground breaking system and these systems are in use now around the world. In December 1979, a new speed record was set, 162.3mph and stood for 23 years. More delays in testing and 2 further sets were delivered all with differences in design. By this time development and testing was still taking place into 1984, further problems and issues with the APT being savaged in the media at the time, the APT was dead.
Technologically BR were way ahead of anything really the world had seen, the technology was sold to Fiat. 20 years later Fiat and
Alstom. The Pendolino is the result of the APT technology. The APT still holds the fastest non stop time from London to Scotland, beating the Pendolino by 3 minutes.
Legacy
In short was the APT a success or failure? That really depends on who you ask, some will say it was a waste of time and money and BR should have never been entrusted with a project this big on their own. Others will argue that the project was under funded and had the potential to reap great rewards. Ultimately everyone seemed to profit from it except BR and the British taxpayer. APT patents were sold of to other companies and countries who refined the technology and are now selling it back to us in various form of rolling stock.
Some images of both APT types, the first there with the HST prototype.
Below some of the artwork
After many years of sitting in obsolescence the APT's are not looking as good as they once were, which for such an iconic piece of history is a real shame. After much work the power car has been returned to its former glory
All images on this page are courtesy of Google.
