High-Speed Streamlined Passenger Trains.

NewYear is here again, bringing with it new hope and new inspiration for railways and railwaymen the world over. In Britain, the worst of the depression has passed: real progress towards prosperity was made in 1934, and during the New Year there seems every prospect of the continuance of better days and steady employment for railwaymen of every grade.

Looking backward, probably the outstanding features of European railway working during the past year were the remarkable increases in passenger train speeds recorded on many lines; and the marked betterment of railway salesmanship in its varied branches. Selling rail transport nowadays is just as highly scientific a business as marketing, say, motorcars or toilet soap. Advertising and salesmanship of the highest standard are resorted to to-day by all the progressive European railways, and the greatest success has attended the new scientific selling campaigns.

Records of fast passenger train running always have a fascination, alike for the railwayman and our old friend the “man in the street.” Study of the 1934 speed tables, reveals the fact that to the Great Western line goes the honour of operating Britain's fastest passenger train. This is the “Cheltenham Flyer,” which covers the 77.3 miles between Swindon and Paddington Station, London, in 65 minutes, an average speed of 71.4 m.p.h. Britain's second speediest passenger train run is found on the London, Midland and Scottish system, in a flight of 142 minutes for the 152.7 miles separating Crewe and Willesden Junction, an average speed of 64.5 m.p.h. On the London and North Eastern line, the speed table is headed by a Grantham-King's Cross run (105.5 miles in 100 minutes, equivalent to 63.3 m.p.h.).

Across the Channel, Germany, Italy and Belgium made noteworthy improvements in passenger train running during the past year. It is in France, however, that the most striking advancement of passenger train speeds is registered. On the Nord Railway (always a noteworthy highspeed line) there is a daily run of 136 minutes for the 147.7 miles Paris-Jeumont journey, equivalent to a throughout speed of 65.2 m.p.h. The Paris-Orleans-Midi system establishes a fine record with the “Sud Express” timing 60 minutes over the 70 mile section Poitiers-Angouleme, actually equivalent to 70 m.p.h. On the Paris-Lyons-Mediterranean line a Diesel railcar daily covers the 99 miles between Dijon and Laroche in 80 minutes, equivalent to the very high throughout speed of 74.3 m.p.h. Railcars on the Etat (State) system travel daily over the Paris-Trouville 136.2 mile route in exactly 120 minutes, or at an average throughout speed of 68.1 m.p.h.