Didn't the APT project begin in 1969 and end in 1986 (not including IC225)?
The running prototypes of both HST and APT trains where running in 1972, but I think APT was actually started in 1970 which is the year after I was born.
What makes me laugh about this thread is that, if this forum had been around in 1975/76 when the HST's where first introduce on the GWML, then I think the same people that are saying that they dislike IEP would have been saying that they dislike HST.
Having lived in the outskirts of Brighton as a child, I know what it was like to travel on a Mk1 Electric train and when I had the chance at the age of about 9/10 years old to travel in a HST it felt like I was travelling on a train from a different planet.
With the like of the Class 91/mk4, Electrostars, Desiro's, Voyagers, Pendolino's etc....trains have moved on a far bit since those days and a lot has changed such that there is a lot more requirements from the trains that we use today than there was in the 1970's with the Mk1's.
In the 1970's trains where used just to get you from place to place no matter what the comfort of the seats, now the trains have for the most part more comfortable armchair like seats.
It is going to be very tough for IEP as it needs to come out and be better than the Voyagers, Adelante's and Pendolino's as well as being a good replacement for the HST. That is going to be tough shoes to fill, but I have no doubts that Hitachi are up for the job.
With regards do I like the IEP, well I am undedecided until I have been able to see one in the flesh running either in test or with passengers along the GWML.