Speed limiters for Hitachi fleets

HITACHI has confirmed to The RM that limiters are to be fitted to all Class 800, 801 and 802 trains, which will restrict them to a maximum speed of 200 kilometres per hour (124.274 miles per hour).

High Speed Trains set the standard for scheduled 125mph running in the late 1970s, a top speed which (albeit by a very small margin) will no longer be equalled by the trains which replaced them on the East Coast and Great Western Main Lines.

Precaution

A company spokesman said the limiters were being fitted as a precautionary measure following a “handful” of instances where 125mph had been exceeded.

He added that this would have no impact on schedules or the potential for the sets to eventually run at their maximum design speed of 140 miles per hour pending upgrades to infrastructure and the introduction of ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) signalling.