The testing of three London Midland class 350/1 units at 110 mph on the West Coast Main Line is set to take place over 3 or 4 nights in October.
The train operator is sponsoring the development of raising the maximum speed of the class from 100 mph to 110 mph, alongside Siemens.
This project involves the instrumentation of the units so that they may run in a twelve car formation during the tests, allowing the contact force of the pantograph on the catenary to be measured.
If successful it is hoped the increase in speed will allow London Midland ‘better paths’.
Engineers will take particular interest in the amount of pantograph arcing and the impact on current collection.
