Why did the BR Advanced Passenger Train fail ?

Answer 1

Technogology was too advanced for it's time?

Try some of the following websites;

http://www.apt-p.com/aptindex.htm

http://www.apt-e.org/ (Site contains music)

http://www.o-keating.com/hsr/apt.htm

http://www.traintesting.com/

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Advanced-Passenger-Train/

Answer 2

The Tory government at the time hated public transport and did not want the railways to have a successful new icon so they and their media friends did every thing to abort the project. They wanted people to have cars and personal transport and succeeded, maybe people should remember their actions when they claim to be a green party. The technology was very advanced and new but would have worked given testing and development. This is exactly what the Italians did when they took the technology and developed it into their Pendilino tilting system, the same system that they have now sold back to Richard Branson's Virgin rail.

Answer 3

The Polititions wanted results - and booked the media on to one of the first trial runs - given time it would have worked, but there wasn't the will to maintain development

The infamous press run on a prototype didn't help matters, the problem was partially the lack of predictive tilt - using sensors on the coach in front to start tilting in advance of the bend, though the technology was in its infancy and would have probably been on production models...

The Intercity 225 (GNER Mallard) is based on the ATP and is the fastest 'Classic' train in the UK

Answer 4

Very good question. I think that there were technical complexities that needed more testing but politicians wished the trains on the line fast and... Please look at: http://www.apt-p.com/APTWithHindsight.htm