The experimental version of British Rail's 150 mph Advanced Passenger Train, APT-E, is at the trials stage. The test track, nearly 14 miles long, runs from Melton Junction to Edwalton, some four miles from Nottingham. Features include a reasonable length of straight track, sharp curves, and tunnels, and the line has been laid with different types of track and switch and crossing work for test purposes. The intention is to provide as near as possible a length of track which will be maintained to 'typical' standards rather than 'better-than-average', so that the results of test work will be representative of the behavior that can be expected from the APT on other main lines on the BR system. The APt is being developed to run at speeds up to 150 mph on existing Inter-City rail routes and at more than 200 mph on purpose built high-speed tracks. The first APT production models are planned for Inter-City services around 1977/78. On-board instrumentation is described briefly, and the parameters to be measured are listed.
