West Coast Rail Line Speed Project

As part of First-Trenitalia's bid for the West Coast Partnership, IPEX provided technical support. IPEX was requested to examine the potential to raise the line speed on the West Coast Main Line for non-tilting trains. IPEX carried out research into track and ride standards dating back as far as 1952. Research projects carried out during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, carried out ride measurements on the mainlines of Britain, and demonstrated that some railway infrastructure does not utilise the limits available. The project carried out a first principles analysis to determine what speeds are allowable which is then “smoothed” so that the speed profile is driveable.
Following First-Trenitalia's success, IPEX has worked with Avanti West Coast as Technical Manager working alonside Avanti and Network Rail colleagues to implement to a new speed profile on the WCML, up to, and including 125mph. The significant value add for this project is that it includes any physical infrastructure alteration while providing a speed enahncement for all contracted passenger operators on the WCML.