Part two of this scries ended with a brief eulogy of Class 387s, the electric trains that have transformed stopping services between Paddington and Didcot. The new EMUs are proving fast, reliable, and able to regain time on schedules not vet fully reflecting die trains' potential. Electrification has been a long time coming to the Great Western. Many years ago, when I mentioned its possibility to a BR Western Region manager, his response was a dry "we don't want it"; such was the 'nose-cone' success of the diesel IntcrCity 125. Cynically, one could even blame the '125s', arguably the saviour of BR's long-distance passenger traffic, for putting a brake on electrification. Yet the overhead wires had already reached Airport Junction, Hayes, providing a 'foot in the door'.
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