<P> InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail 's diesel - powered High Speed Train ( HST ) fleet , which was built from 1975 to 1982 and was introduced in 1976 . An InterCity 125 train is made up of two Class 43 power cars , one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages ( the number of carriages varies by operator ) . The train operates at speeds of up to 125 mph ( 201 km / h ) in regular service , and has an absolute maximum speed of 148 mph ( 238 km / h ) , making it the fastest diesel - powered train in the world , a record it has held from its introduction to the present day . Initially the sets were classified as Classes 253 and 254 . A variant of the power cars operates in Australia as part of the XPT . </P>
<P> InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail 's diesel - powered High Speed Train ( HST ) fleet , which was built from 1975 to 1982 and was introduced in 1976 . An InterCity 125 train is made up of two Class 43 power cars , one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages ( the number of carriages varies by operator ) . The train operates at speeds of up to 125 mph ( 201 km / h ) in regular service , and has an absolute maximum speed of 148 mph ( 238 km / h ) , making it the fastest diesel - powered train in the world , a record it has held from its introduction to the present day . Initially the sets were classified as Classes 253 and 254 . A variant of the power cars operates in Australia as part of the XPT . </P>
when was the first intercity 125 train launched
when was the first intercity 125 train launched
1976
1976