They would have been capable of travelling at up to 155 mph (250 km/h), and powering a push-pull train of up to nine Mark 5 coaches and a driving van trailer (DVT), similar to the InterCity 225 sets.

Tenders to construct the locomotives and rolling stock were issued in March 1991, with an expected in service date of 1995; it was envisaged that up to 30 complete trains would be initially required, with a total cost estimated at £380 million.

This meant that the £380 million for the locomotives added to the required cost of upgrades to the WCML infrastructure was not available.

[2] Prior to the announcement of Agility Trains as the preferred bidder for the Intercity Express Programme a number of commentators called for the InterCity 250 / Class 93 idea to be revived as the basis for replacement rolling stock on the East Coast Main Line.

Even though the Class 93s were never built, the traction characteristics of the locomotives were used in Railtrack WCML feasibility studies to determine the electrification requirements for an upgraded line.