THE decision to introduce High Speed Trains on Table 51, as the cross-country routes were once known, came in 1978, when the British Railways Board identified a need for 36 sets which would enable a large proportion of services to be converted to InterCity 125 operation in two phases. At the time, most trains on the route were operated using a mix of Mk.1 and early Mk.2 rolling stock, so the desire to upgrade was obvious.
Unfortunately, the Department of Transport (DoT), which held the purse strings, did not share the BRB’s enthusiasm, and authorisation for only the first 18 sets was given, and while the power cars which were introduced on the cross-country network from 1981 onwards were new, around half of the coaches had previously been used on other routes. The proposed fleet was further depleted when a decision was taken to allocate the last three sets and six power cars (Nos. 43193-198) to the Eastern Region for use on the Midland Main Line, leaving just 15 sets and 30 power cars (Nos. 43163-192) for use on cross-country services.
Of the coaches used to make up the 15 rakes of seven coaches, all the catering vehicles had previously seen use on either
