Midland Main Line railway upgrade

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The Midland Main Line railway upgrade is a proposed upgrade to the Midland Main Line, a railway line in the United Kingdom. There have been a number of proposals to electrify the line over many years[1] but the 2012 proposal and announcement by the UK government was that it would include electrification of the railway line between Bedford, Wellingborough, Corby, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield. The routes between Nottingham and Sheffield and the Erewash Valley line were not included at this time, only the line between Derby and Sheffield. The upgrade was part of the HLOS High Level Output Specification for Control Period 5 published by the UK Government in 2012.[2] This was also part of a rolling programme of railway electrification projects.

2012 Department for Transport plans for UK rail electrification by 2019 including Northern Hub (red), Electric Spine (yellow/green), Great Western Main Line and South Wales Main Line (red) and Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes (blue). For 'HLOS', see Network Rail > Control periods.

Background[]

The section of the line at the southern end between London St Pancras and Bedford was electrified with overhead line in the early 1980s and finished 1983.[3] This section is mainly a commuter route and often called the Bedpan line, and was subject to industrial dispute when one man electric trains were introduced.[4] As it is a key strategic artery and a radial main line originating in London there have been many calls for it to be electrified especially now the Great Western Main Line and East Coast Main Line are now electrified along with the West Coast Main Line which was electrified in the 1960s and 1970s. The desire to achieve net zero carbon in transport has increased calls for the line to be electrified/decarbonised.

History and earlier proposals[]

In the 1970s large scale electrification was proposed on the back of the West Coast Main Line electrification and partially in response to the oil crisis of that decade.[5] In 1981 the British Railways Board published a final document on railway electrification that included the Midland Main Line as high priority.[6] In the intervening years priority was put on other projects such as schemes in Anglia and the East Coast Main Line.[7] Then privatisation and a change in government intervened.

21st century proposals[]

In July 2009 the Labour government published a document and said it was looking at electrification of the Midland Main Line but no funds had been committed.[8] When originally planned and announced in the 21st Century, the line upgrade was costed at £1.6 billion and it was expected that the line would be electrified as far as Kettering and Corby by 2017. It was then expected that the electrification of the line would continue from Kettering to Leicester, Derby and Nottingham and would occur by 2019 and then the Sheffield section by 2020. Again only the Derby to Sheffield section of the line was planned for electrification and not the Nottingham to Sheffield route, or the through route bypassing both Derby and Nottingham - the Erewash Valley line. In addition an extra track was to be installed between Kettering and Corby to enhance capacity.[9] It appeared in the autumn statement of 2011.[10]

An 2014 article in RAIL Magazine gave a detailed account of the work that lay ahead. Rebuilding of bridges between Bedford and Leicester had already been in progress for a while. Equipment for placing the various electrification tasks such as bases and overhead line equipment was scheduled to start April 2015. The completion date for electric trains arriving at Sheffield Midland station was cited as December 2020 - the cost given as £1.3 billion pounds and also included three station modifications at Leicester, Derby and Sheffield. 422 single track miles of wiring was supposed to occur and a total of 120 bridges modified. Bradway tunnel had already had some heavy maintenance.[11] It was further pointed out that ECAM had been used (as in the project had been through this procedure)- a term the treasury used meaning Enhancements Cost Adjustment Mechanism. Pre- ECAM the cost had been quoted at £900 million. Ryan Scott the Network Rail Programme Engineering Manager was quoted as saying that the minimum number of platforms at Sheffield station - (Sheffield Midland) would be wired to avoid having unnecessary cost added when the station was later remodeled. The whole MML scheme also overlapped with the Electric Spine project.[12]

In June 2015, the then Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin informed Parliament the electrification project was being paused, resulting in criticism from local MPs. Mcloughlin said better services could be delivered on Midland Mainline before electrification was completed. He blamed Network Rail for rising costs and missed targets. Lilian Greenwood who at the time was Shadow Transport Secretary, and also an MP for Nottingham South, accused the government of being cynical and that they had delayed this announcement until after the 2015 United Kingdom general election which took place the previous month.[13]

On 30 September 2015 Patrick McLoughlin restarted the scheme.[14] The new expected completion dates were now three years later than originally planned, with electrification to Kettering and Corby now targeted for completion in 2019 and then to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield by 2023.[15] The line from Kettering to Corby was to be doubled, and indeed Network Rail began work in June 2015.[16] The Enhancements plan update of January 2016 showed the project on target.[17] On 27 July 2017 a further briefing paper was issued and the Midland Main Line had a section of its own.[18] This document, and the subsequent announcement by the new Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said the electrification scheme north of Kettering to Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield had been cancelled and that bi-mode trains would be used.[19]

2021 and onwards timeframe[]

Local news outlets reported in December 2020 that electrification to Market Harborough was moving closer.[20] In February 2021, Network Rail put out a document confirming this saying that devegetation, ecological and biodiversity work was starting on the section between Kettering and north to Market Harborough as a prelude to electrification. They further stated that detailed assessment had already taken place and that this immediate ground clearance would end April 2021.[21] Local news outlets reported this work earlier but they further confirmed it.[22] There will be overlap with some Sub-national transport body such as East Midlands Connect. On 23 March 2021, the Transport Select Committee published its sixth report in the Trains fit for the Future ongoing enquiry, which called for a rolling programme of electrification.[23][24] It reported that the Midland Main Line was actively being looked at and that the project plans would be broken up into eight route sections.[25] It was reported and confirmed in Modern Railways that the contractor SPL Powerlines was working in conjunction with Network Rail to progress the project north of Market Harborough all the way to Sheffield and Nottingham and that current plans were the route would be divided into eight discrete sections.[26] It was announced that due consideration was being given to environmental protection during the upgrade with Great crested newts being given special mention.[27] On completion of certain parts of the project, environmental aspects and Green credentials were touted.[28]

On 6 July 2021 it was announced that a Microsoft Teams meeting would be taking place on 12 July 2021 to discuss bidding for extension of the upgrade and electrification of the line from Market Harborough to Sheffield a key stage in the project going ahead. The work would go out to tender in September 2022.[29]

On 18 November 2021, the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) was published.[30] This affected parts of the HS2 programme including curtailing much of the eastern leg but did include full Midland Main Line electrification and upgrades.

On 21 December 2021 the DfT officially announced that work would start on 24 December 2021 on electrification of the section of line between Kettering and Market Harborough.[31][32][33] Grant Shapps controversially claimed this work was proof the IRP was being implemented quickly.[34]

Power supply[]

The electrified line will be fed via the autotransformer system. To cope with the higher electricity usage south of Bedford into St Pancras, the upgrade involves boosting the existing power supplies. This contract has been awarded to SPL Powerlines.[35] In addition, new grid feeders will be needed at Braybrooke, just south of Market Harborough.[36] At the north end of the scheme it was proposed that a grid feeder would be located in the Chesterfield area. The middle section of the upgrade scheme would have the grid feeder located in the Kegworth area. Work was announced as starting on the grid feeder in the Market Harborough area on 8 April 2021.[37] The transformers were delivered to site in December 2021.[38]

Timeline summary[]

[39]

  • November 2011 - Autumn statement includes electrification of the line
  • September 2015 - Electrification paused by the Secretary of State shortly after publication of the Hendy review
  • October 2015 - Electrification unpaused but timeline for completion is delayed
  • July 2019 - (RSSB) Rail Industry Decarbonisation Task Force report published
  • April 2021 - Work on Braybrooke grid feeder started
  • November 2021 Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) published stating electrification of the whole line would take place.
  • December 21 2021 - Official announcement and press release that Kettering to Market Harborough electrification is approved and "spades in the ground" work starting December 24 2021.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Review of Mainline Electrification" (PDF). Railway Archives. 1981.
  2. ^ "HLOS CP5" (PDF).
  3. ^ Keenor, Garry C.Eng MIET (2018). Overhead Line Electrification for Railways 5th Edition. pp. Appendix A.
  4. ^ "One-man trains introduced on Bedpan line · British Universities Film & Video Council". bufvc.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  5. ^ "British Rail: the timescale for a strategic electrification programme". Modern Railways. November 1974. November 1974 – via Ian Allan publishing.
  6. ^ "British Railways Board Rail Electrification" (PDF). Railway archive. July 1981.
  7. ^ "ECML: Electrification as it used to be – Rail Engineer". 2018-01-11. Archived from the original on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  8. ^ "Rail Electrification" (PDF). July 2009.
  9. ^ "Work to upgrade railway between Corby and Kettering enters next phase". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  10. ^ "Autumn Statement 2011" (PDF). UK Government. 2011.
  11. ^ "TRAINS RUNNING THROUGH BRADWAY TUNNEL". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  12. ^ Broadbent, Steve (August 6, 2014). "The countdown begins to MML wiring". RAIL Magazine. 765: 54–59 – via Bauer Media.
  13. ^ "All bets off for £38bn rail plan". BBC News. 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  14. ^ "Network Rail to restart electrification of train lines". BBC News. 2015-09-30. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  15. ^ "Midland Main Line electrification unpaused – but delayed by years". www.railtechnologymagazine.com. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  16. ^ "Work to upgrade railway between Corby and Kettering enters next phase". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  17. ^ "Wayback Machine Enhancements Delivery Update Plan Sir Peter Hendy" (PDF). 2016-02-04. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  18. ^ Butcher, Louise (2021-02-22). "Rail electrification". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. ^ "Rail electrification plans scrapped by government". BBC News. 2017-07-20. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  20. ^ "Rail Electrification to Market Harborough moves closer". Harborough FM. 8 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Network Rail begins vital work at Market Harborough in step towards electrification". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  22. ^ "Vital electrification works to take place near Kettering's rail line". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  23. ^ Lancefield, Neil (2021-03-23). "MPs call for rolling programme of rail electrification projects to cut carbon". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  24. ^ "MP's call for immediate start of 30-year rail electrification plan". Rail Technology Magazine. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  25. ^ "Trains fit for the future? Sixth report of session 2019-2021". UK Government. 2021-03-23.
  26. ^ "MML Wires towards Market Harborough". Modern Railways. April 2021: 23. March 2021.
  27. ^ "New Protection For Great Crested Newts During Railway Upgrade". HFM. 2021-03-25. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  28. ^ "Network Rail transforms Northamptonshire work compound into first habitat to protect wildlife following major railway upgrades". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  29. ^ "Bidders day for £500m Midland Mainline electrification". Construction Enquirer News. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  30. ^ "Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands" (PDF). UK Government. November 18, 2021.
  31. ^ "Spades in ground as government delivers on rail investment promise for North and Midlands". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  32. ^ "Main works on next stage of Midland Main Line electrification due to begin". RailBusinessDaily. 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  33. ^ "Rail industry welcomes progress on Midland Mainline electrification". www.riagb.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  34. ^ Hakimian, Rob (2021-12-22). "DfT slammed for 'insulting' claim that IRP pushed through long-delayed Midland Main Line electrification". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  35. ^ "Project Win – Midland Mainline – Key Output 1A Civils Design | Whitfield Construction Services". 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  36. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  37. ^ "Work Starts On Rail Electricity Substation Project". HFM. 2021-04-08. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  38. ^ "Milestone Reached In Construction Of Rail Electricity Substation". HFM. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  39. ^ Ford, Roger (August 2021). "Informed Sources Table 1:Electrification Policy Timeline". Modern Railways. September 2021: 32–33 – via Key Publishing.

Further reading[]

  • Wolmar, Christian (2005). On the Wrong Line: How Ideology and Incompetence Wrecked Britain's Railways (rev. ed.). London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1-85410-998-7.
  • Nock, O.S. (1965). Britain's new railway: Electrification of the London-Midland main lines from Euston to Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Liverpool and Manchester. London: Ian Allan. OCLC 59003738.
  • Nock, O.S. (1974). Electric Euston to Glasgow. Ian Allen. ISBN 978-0711005303.
  • Keenor, Garry. Overhead Line Electrification for Railways.
  • Boocock, Colin (1991). East Coast Electrification. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1979-7.
  • Semmens, P.W.B. (March 1991). Electrifying the East Coast Route: Making of Britain's First 140m.p.h. Railway. Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-0850599299.
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