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British Rail Class 91

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description British Rail Class 91 Overview

The British Rail Class 91 is a class of Bo-Bo electric locomotives designed for high-speed passenger service on the electrified East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh. Built by BREL in the late 1980s, they are capable of operating at speeds up to 140 mph (225 km/h) while pulling Mark 4 carriages in the InterCity 225 sets. The locomotives feature a distinctive asymmetric body design, with a streamlined "shark nose" at one end to reduce aerodynamic drag.

help British Rail Class 91 FAQ

When were British Rail Class 91 locomotives built?

Thirty-one Class 91 locomotives were built by BREL at Crewe between 1988 and 1991. They were developed for the electrified East Coast Main Line's InterCity 225 service. [Loco-info](https://www.loco-info.com/view.aspx?id=9564&t=Locomotive)

Can a British Rail Class 91 really reach 140 mph?

The Class 91 was designed for a top speed of 140 mph, or 225 km/h, which explains the InterCity 225 name. Regular services were generally limited to 125 mph because of infrastructure and signalling constraints. [UK Parliament](https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP11-75/RP11-75.pdf)

What train formation does a Class 91 normally use?

A Class 91 normally works with British Rail Mark 4 coaches and a Driving Van Trailer at the opposite end. That locomotive-hauled formation allowed push-pull operation between London King's Cross and destinations such as Edinburgh. [UK Parliament](https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP11-75/RP11-75.pdf)

Which railway route made the Class 91 famous?

The class became identified with the East Coast Main Line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh. Its introduction followed the electrification programme that transformed express services on the London to Edinburgh route. [UK Parliament](https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP11-75/RP11-75.pdf)

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