The Midland Main Line (MML), a major railway line in the United Kingdom, has been undergoing various upgrades since 2015. [1] The current programme of upgrades began in 2012, although electrification was proposed a number of times previously. [2] The current programme includes 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. [3]
To enable all the benefits of using electric traction, the line from Bedford to St Pancras is also being upgraded which includes boosting the power supply. [4] [5] Parts of the line have been classed as congested infrastructure hence another reason for the upgrade. [6]
The upgrading of the overhead line equipment (OLE) south of Bedford is underway to allow 125 mph (200 km/h) running and due for completion in late 2025. [5] The Kettering to South Wigston stretch was energised in July 2024.
The commuter route at the southern end of the line between London St Pancras and Bedford, nicknamed the Bedpan line, was electrified with overhead line in the early 1980s and completed in 1983. [7] This section is mainly a commuter route and is often called the Bedpan line. It was the subject of an industrial dispute when driver-only operation (DOO) electric trains were introduced. [8]
As the line 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 that the Great Western Main Line and East Coast Main Line are 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. There is also the desire to increase some sections of the line to 125 mph speed capability. [9]
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. [10] In 1981 the British Railways Board published a final document on railway electrification that included the Midland Main Line as high priority. [11] In the intervening years priority was put on other projects such as schemes in Anglia and the East Coast Main Line. [12] Then in the 1990s, British Rail was privatised followed by a change in government.
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. [13] 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. [14] It appeared in the autumn statement of 2011. [15]
A 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. [16] 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, a Programme Engineering Manager from Network Rail, commented that the minimum number of platforms at Sheffield would be wired, to avoid unnecessary adding cost when the station was later remodeled. The whole MML scheme also overlapped with the Electric Spine project. [17]
In June 2015, the 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. [18] There were also complaints that money had been wasted on civil engineering interventions that were no longer needed. [19]
On 30 September 2015 Patrick McLoughlin restarted the scheme. [20] 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. [21] The line from Kettering to Corby was to be doubled, and indeed Network Rail began work in June 2015. [22] The Enhancements plan update of January 2016 showed the project on target. [23] On 27 July 2017, a further briefing paper was issued and the Midland Main Line had a section of its own. [24] 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. [25]
Local news outlets reported in December 2020 that electrification to Market Harborough was moving closer. [26] 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. [27] Local news outlets reported this work earlier but they further confirmed it. [28] 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. [29] [30] 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. [31] 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. [32] It was announced that due consideration was being given to environmental protection during the upgrade with Great crested newts being given special mention. [33] On completion of certain parts of the project, environmental aspects and Green credentials were touted. [34]
In September 2020 the TDNS (Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy) was published. Further electrification was recommended and included the Midland Main Line and fill ins such as Sheffield northwards and Birmingham to Derby. In October 2022 it was reported the TDNS had been quietly abandoned. [35]
A meeting took place in 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. [36]
On 18 November 2021, the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) was published. [37] 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. [38] [39] [40] Grant Shapps controversially claimed this work was proof the IRP was being implemented quickly. [41]
On 24 May 2022 in an article in New Civil Engineer, it was announced that delivery was already in progress from Kettering to Wigston and given the section name RS1 (Route Section 1 – sometimes also referred to as K2W). Contractors were invited to a "Market engagement" event on 15 June 2022 for the remaining sections to allow bimode trains to run on electric power all the way to Sheffield. [42] These sections for continued work were outlined. RS is a Route Section. [43]
In the August 2022 edition of Modern Railways, Roger Ford stated that RS3 will have high priority because of the diversionary route capabilities it brings. [44] The whole project has an advantage in that it is not driven by a timetable change. [45]
The September 2022 Mini-Budget, included RS3 as one of a list of infrastructure "projects to have particularly high potential to move to construction at an accelerated pace".
October 2023 saw the publishing of the command document Network North. This document further proposed extension of the electrification of the MML from Sheffield to Doncaster and Leeds. [48]
The installation of the foundations was fully completed as of 28 November 2023 on the section of line from Kettering to Wigston and was energised on 28 July 2024. [49] [50]
On 6 April 2024, the West Bridgford Wire stated that the government is committed to electrify the line to Nottingham by 2030, with the rest of the electrification to Sheffield to be done by the early 2030s due to the fact it has been going at a 'snails pace'. It also stated that the work south of Bedford is to be delivered in 2025. [51]
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. [52] This contract has been awarded to SPL Powerlines. [53] In addition, a new grid feeder was installed at Braybrooke, just south of Market Harborough. [54] 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. [55] The transformers were delivered to the site in December 2021. [56] There are a number of bridges requiring work. [57]
Wellingborough aggregates terminal is a rail freight terminal in Wellingborough in North Northamptonshire, adjacent to the Midland Main Line. [58] In 2022, the terminal was the site of an electrification trial. As freight trains are usually top loaded, it is not possible to install typical overhead lines. A new moveable overhead conductor was installed which retracts to allow loading of the train. [59] [60] This can thus be considered part of the MML upgrade programme.
Source for most of section information. [61]
Midland Mainline was a train operating company in the United Kingdom that operated the Midland Main Line franchise between April 1996 and November 2007. It was owned by the British transport company National Express.
The Midland Main Line (MML), sometimes also spelt Midland Mainline, is a major railway line from London to Sheffield in Yorkshire via the East Midlands. It comprises the lines from London's St Pancras station via Leicester, Derby/Nottingham and Chesterfield.
Leicester railway station is a mainline railway station in the city of Leicester in Leicestershire, England. The station is managed by East Midlands Railway and owned by Network Rail. The station is served by CrossCountry and East Midlands Railway services. It is the busiest station in Leicestershire, the second busiest station in the East Midlands, and the fifth busiest station in the Midlands as a whole.
The Cross Country Route is a long-distance railway route in England, which runs from Bristol Temple Meads to York via Birmingham New Street, Derby, Sheffield and Leeds or Doncaster. Inter-city services on the route, which include some of the longest passenger journeys in the UK such as Aberdeen to Penzance, are operated by CrossCountry.
Bedford railway station is the larger of two railway stations in the town of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. It is on the Midland Main Line from London St Pancras to the East Midlands and the terminus of the Marston Vale line from Bletchley through Bedford St Johns.
The Birmingham–Peterborough line is a cross-country railway line in the England, linking Birmingham, Leicester and Peterborough, via Nuneaton, Oakham and Stamford
Wellingborough railway station is a Grade II listed station located in the market town of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line and is 65 miles (104 km) from London St. Pancras. The station is operated by East Midlands Railway, which is also the primary operator serving the station with passenger services under the Luton Airport Express brand.
Kettering railway station serves the market and industrial town of Kettering in Northamptonshire, England. It lies south-west of the town centre, on the Midland Main Line, 71 miles (115 km) north of London St. Pancras.
Market Harborough railway station is a Grade II listed station which serves the town of Market Harborough in Leicestershire, England. It is situated to the east of the town centre and lies on the Midland Main Line, 16 miles (26 km) south-east of Leicester.
Loughborough is a Grade II listed railway station in the town of Loughborough, Leicestershire; it is on the Midland Main Line and is located 111 miles (179 km) north of London St Pancras. The station is sited to the north-east of the town centre.
Corby railway station, owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway, is in Corby, Northamptonshire, England. The current station, opened on 23 February 2009, replaces an earlier one dating from 1879, first closed on 18 April 1966 but reopened between 1987 and 1990.
Melton Mowbray railway station serves the market town of Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, England. It is owned by Network Rail and operated by East Midlands Railway, though CrossCountry operates most of the services as part of its Birmingham New Street to Stansted Airport route. The station is on the route of the Syston and Peterborough Railway, which is now part of the Birmingham to Peterborough Line. It has a ticket office, which is staffed part-time, a car park, and help points for times when no staff are present.
The Oakham–Kettering line is a railway line in the East Midlands of England. Currently it has one passenger station in operation, at Corby.
Railway electrification in Great Britain began in the late 19th century. A range of voltages has been used, employing both overhead lines and conductor rails. The two most common systems are 25 kV AC using overhead lines, and the 750 V DC third rail system used in Southeast England and on Merseyrail. As of October 2023, 6,065 kilometres (3,769 mi) (38%) of the British rail network was electrified.
East Midlands Trains (EMT) was a British train operating company owned by the transport group Stagecoach, which operated the East Midlands franchise between November 2007 and August 2019.
Wigston Magna railway station was a railway station serving Wigston Magna in Leicestershire.
The "Electric Spine" was the name for part of a, now largely cancelled, rolling programme of railway electrification projects in England initially estimated to cost £800 million, but later thought to cost close to £3 billion. The aim was to form 25 kV AC overhead-wire electrified links northward from the Port of Southampton to major cities in northern and central England and dry port container terminals in the Midlands. The government wanted efficient electric-hauled freight trains to compete with road haulage.
The Felixstowe to Nuneaton railway upgrade in the United Kingdom is a series of upgrades being made to both a key strategic freight route and one that carries passengers on many parts. It is one of only two routes between the busiest container port and the Midlands, the other being via London. The route and the upgrade is sometimes abbreviated to F2N. The railway route includes the Birmingham–Peterborough line for a large part. The line links the Port of Felixstowe in Felixstowe, Suffolk, with the Midlands and crosses the East Coast Main Line, the Midland Main Line and the West Coast Main Line and thus the north and Scotland. From Nuneaton, a number of intermodal terminals may be reached. Much infrastructure in the UK is of Victorian origin and thus needed an upgrade; F2N, being a key route, is no exception.
The Nottingham direct line of the Midland Railway was a new route created in 1879 to relieve congestion on the established routes of the Midland Railway, in England. It consisted of two connecting lines that, together with part of an existing route, formed a new route from Nottingham to near Kettering. The line was used for Nottingham to London express passenger trains, and for heavy mineral and goods trains heading south. As well as shortening the transit a little, the new line had the effect of relieving congestion on the original main line through Leicester, that had become excessively congested.
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