British Rail Class 93

Class 93 is the traction classification assigned to the electric locomotives that were to enter service as part of British Rail's "InterCity 250" project on the West Coast Main Line. They would have been derived from the Class 91 locomotives that entered service on the East Coast Main Line in 1989. The locomotive would have been utilised along with a train of up to nine Mark 5 coaches and a DVT, similar to the "InterCity 225" sets. The locomotives would have been capable of up to 155 mph. Tenders to construct the locomotives and rolling stock were issued in March 1991, with an expected in service date of 1995; it was envisaged that up to 30 complete trains would be initially required, with a total cost estimated at £380 million. However, the cancellation of the InterCity 250 project in 1992 meant that the rolling stock orders were never made. [http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Artists%20impressions/IC250_Cl93.jpgHere] is a picture of what the cab may have looked like.

Speed and aerodynamic properties

The sleek, aerodynamic properties of the Class 93 would have allowed speeds of up to 155 mph. The speed however would have started out at 125 mph because of line implications.

Limited funding

Because the Intercity 250 project was to be the next major infrastructure project following the East Coast Main Line electrification and delivery of the Intercity 225s had occurred. However, BR was also beginning a major upgrade of its suburban and commuter EMU rolling stock on Network SouthEast, with the introduction of the Networker series. As a consequence, funding was limited. This meant that the £380 million for the locomotives added to the cost of upgrades to the WCML infrastructure was not available. So due to this and other complications, the project was scrapped.

Legacy

The only Class 93 life-size mock-up is on display at the Midland Railway Centre in Swanwick. However, now that the East Coast Main Line is in need of new rolling stock by 2016, some people are calling for the Intercity 250/Class 93 idea to be revived. Even though the Class 93s were never built, Virgin Trains (the operators of the West Coast Main Line franchise after privatisation) ordered new rolling stock, albeit EMUs rather than loco-hauled stock.

See also

*InterCity 250
*British Rail Mark 5

External links

* [http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Resource_data/All%20Time%20class%20Loco.pdf UK Traction Classification system]
* [http://rpm-railpics.fotopic.net/p32077762.html Class 93 mockup at the Midland Railway Centre]
* [http://rpm-railpics.fotopic.net/p32077658.html Class 93 cab interior at the Midland Railway Centre]