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High Speed Train

From Bradshaw, the companion guide to On Our Lines
Revision as of 22:03, 8 January 2026 by J-Railway-Volunteer (talk | contribs) (= Virgin Cross Country: fixed made it a sub heading)
First Great Western 43034 at London Paddington

The British Rail High Speed Train is the name given the Class 43 and Mark 3 coaches, which are sometimes classified as Diesel Multiple Units and given the numbers Class 253, Class 254 and Class 255. The High Speed train was capable of running 125mph in service.

History British Rail

British Rail

Intercity

In 1986 the HSTs all transferred to

History Western Private

Great Western Trains =

First Great Western

Great Western Railway

History Eastern Private

Great North Eastern Railway

East Coast

Virgin Trains East Coast

London North Eastern Railway

History Midland Private

Midland Mainline

East Midlands Trains

East Midlands Trains re-engined there Paxman Velanta HSTs with VP185 engines making them unquine on the Main Line as all other TOC's went with MTU engines.

East Midlands Railway

East Midlands Railway operated 12 angle HST sets.

History Cross Country Private

Virgin Cross Country

CrossCrountry

History Other

Scotrail

Diesel Mutiple Unit Classes

Class 253

The Class 253 was used for the Western Region sets.

Class 254

The Class 254 was used for the Eastern region sets.

Class 255

Class 255 on Royal Tamar Bridge on approach to Saltash

The Class 255 was for planned Virgin Cross Country HST sets. In 2019 it was reused for the Great Western Railway Class 255 Castle Sets. The Castle sets are 2+4 train sets used on the Great Western Railway services between Exeter St David's and Penzance. These are currently in the process of being replaced by the Class 175.

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