Date: 22/12/2014

Four decades ago, something came along that many people feel helped save the railways. A sleek, pacy, high-speed train, the InterCity 125. With its familiar sloping nose, the 125 symbolised a new era of clean lines and high technology on a network that had been underfunded and getting tatty for decades. Now, we are getting the first glimpses of the train the government has picked to replace it.

External links

Remembering the InterCity 125

BBC News

A new high-speed train is coming to Britain's railways. The BBC's transport correspondent Richard Westcott takes a look at the old favourite it's replacing.

Related images

Prototype HST photographed running through Sonning Cutting in 1976.
Location: Reading
Company: Great Western Railway
//1976 Ian Dinmore

An InterCity HST continues its journey north to Aberdeen following the Dundee stop on 5 August 1981. The train is seen here shortly after passing Camperdown Junction with the dock estate to the left and the A92 road running parallel with the line on the right.
Location: Camperdown Junction
Company: Trades Lane and Carolina Port Railway
05/08/1981 John Furnevel

Brand new HST power cars 43143 and 43144 at Saltley in January 1981. They were taken into service the following month and so are either on test here or being delivered from BREL Crewe where they were built.
Location: Saltley
Company: Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway
21/01/1981 Mark Bartlett