By ROGER FORD
Informed Sources
Record attempt: Avanti West Coast Pendolino No 390044 working the 1Z57 10.36 Euston to Glasgow Central approaches Winwick Junction on 17 June 2021.
Tony Miles
■ Need for WCML (North) modernisation
■ Energy efficiency of electrification
■ Industry can co-operate
Since I joined Modern Railways, I have taken part in numerous record runs. But I can’t remember thinking at the time ‘why are we doing this’? However, the attempt by Avanti West Coast on 17 June to break the December 1984 London – Glasgow record set by a Pre-Series Advanced Passenger Train (APT-P) was so out of kilter with these austere, turbulent times that, as I followed its progress on Realtime Trains, just that question came to mind.
