Britain's Loves AND Hates High Speed Trains | Great British Railway Journeys

Why It Matters

Understanding Britain’s historical trade‑off between cars and rail clarifies current high‑speed rail debates and highlights the lasting impact of UK engineering on worldwide train technology.

Key Takeaways

• Britain prioritized cars over high‑speed rail in the 1970s.
• Advanced Passenger Train pioneered tilting tech, but never entered service.
• InterCity 125 succeeded with diesel power, reaching 125 mph.
• Opposition splits between anti‑infrastructure and environmental protection groups.
• UK’s rail innovations still influence global high‑speed train designs.

Summary

The video features railway engineer Gareth Dennis discussing Britain’s ambivalent relationship with high‑speed rail. He explains that in the 1970s the UK chose to expand motorways rather than emulate Japan’s Shinkansen, leaving high‑speed rail development lagging.

Dennis highlights two pivotal projects: the Advanced Passenger Train, a lightweight, tilting prototype that introduced suspension technology now used worldwide but was shelved in the mid‑80s; and the simpler InterCity 125, a diesel‑powered set that achieved 125 mph on existing tracks and became the country’s workhorse.

He notes the split in opposition: one camp resists large public‑transport infrastructure, while environmentalists protect Britain’s limited habitats. A memorable quote underscores the dilemma: “We love the speed, but we fear the footprint.”

The discussion underscores how past policy choices still shape today’s HS2 debate, and how British engineering contributions continue to influence global rail design despite domestic hesitation.

Original Description

On 21 April 2022, I joined Michael Portillo at the Long Itchington High Speed 2 tunnel site, talking to him about motorways, opposition to HS2, how the Advanced Passenger Train and InterCity 125 fit into the wider story, and a few other things. The show aired on 19 July 2023.

Support #Railnatter at https://patreon.com/garethdennis. Merch at https://merch.railnatter.uk. Join in the discussion at https://discord.railnatter.uk. You can also buy my book #HowTheRailwaysWillFixTheFuture: https://bit.ly/HowTheRailways