Railway electrification in Scotland

Last updated

Railway electrification in Scotland has proceeded in a different fashion than the rest of the UK especially in the 21st century. There is political commitment [1] to a substantial rolling programme of railway electrification from the Scottish government where transport is devolved. [1] [2] Transport Scotland and others have said "In Scotland, decarbonisation is spelt E-L-E-C-T-R-I-F-Y". [3] All parties in Scotland are vigorously campaigning for electrification. In January 2022, there were 2776 kilometres of track in Scotland, and 711 kilometres were electrified representing 25.3%. [4] [5] To meet these needs, the plan is to electrify on average 130 single track kilometres (STK) per year until 2035, although there has been some slippage in this target. [6] [7] [8] [9]

Contents

Twentieth century history

Much of the Glasgow suburban network was electrified by 1960 with the introduction of blue trains. [10] Electrified power lines began to appear at Glasgow Central station high-level platforms at the start of 1960s under British Railways. Firstly came 6.25 kV AC overhead power lines from the Cathcart Circle Line electrification scheme, which started on 29 May 1962. [11] This was followed by the 25 kV AC overhead-power-lines electrification of the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway and the Inverclyde Line to Gourock and Wemyss Bay, completed in 1967. [11] The WCML electrification scheme from Weaver Junction to Glasgow was discussed in 1968 and a report issued, [12] and was completed in 1974 with squadron service starting on 6 May 1974. [13] [14] Progressive upgrading of the Cathcart Circle to 25 kV AC supply was started in 1974 and the whole of the route was upgraded later. The Ayr, Ardrossan and Largs lines were completed in 1986-1987. [15] The East Coast Main Line (ECML) was electrified in stages and reached Edinburgh in 1991. The branch to North Berwick was done at the same time. [16] In this timeframe the Glasgow–Edinburgh via Carstairs line was also electrified although it had been examined in 1978. [17]

Twenty-first century history

In Scotland, where transport is devolved to the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland has extended and continues to expand electrification. [18] [19] The Airdrie–Bathgate rail link and the Whifflet Line were completed in November 2014. [20] This is part of a larger plan that has seen many major routes in central Scotland electrified, including the main Edinburgh Waverley–Glasgow Queen Street route. [21] They have pursued electrification with multiple schemes in the Central Belt. All these have been 25 kV AC, as in England and Wales. In September 2019, Transport Scotland announced the goal of having Scottish transport net carbon neutral by 2035. [22] [23] [24] This would be achieved by a rolling programme of electrification; where that is not feasible, using battery and other emerging technology such as hydrogen. Electrification to Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane was originally part of Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP). Electrification was completed by 2019; it was carried out under the rolling programme of electrification, rather than as part of the EGIP programme. EGIP was an initiative funded by Transport Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government [25] to increase capacity on the main railway line between Edinburgh and Glasgow, with new, longer electric trains running by 2017 and scheduled for full completion in 2019. [26] It was expected to cost £742 million and delivered by Network Rail.

The Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition government announced this in 2006. [27] It was completed in October 2021 with the Glasgow Queen Street station modernisation. [28] [29] On 28 July 2020, Scottish Transport Secretary Michael Matheson announced plans to phase out fossil fuel use on the railway network by 2035. [30] The plan would see most lines electrified, but suggests that intermittent electrification in difficult places may be implemented. [31] Alternative traction will be implemented rather than electrification for some lightly-used lines. These are the Far North Line, Kyle of Lochalsh Line, West Highland Line, and the southern portion of the Stranraer Line. [32] Other Scottish political parties support an accelerated programme. Transport Scotland has also published a list prioritising the projects and divided them into the categories of 1) in delivery, 2) in development, 3) under active consideration. [33] On 1 July 2022, Network Rail confirmed investment and planning for the electrical grid feeders to power the schemes. [34] [35] [36] Scotland electrification is using innovation to achieve its aims. Resiliency of the power supply is considered key and discontinuous electrification with Battery EMUs being used to achieve intermediate goals. [37] [38]

The HLOS- High Level Output Statement for Scotland for CP7 reaffirmed commitment to a rolling programme of electrification and other upgrades. [39] An invitation to tender was sent out on 29 November 2023 for electrification and associated works. [40]

Individual schemes

East Kilbride scheme

In early 2021 a start was made on the electrification scheme to East Kilbride and Barrhead. [49] The first electric train ran to Barrhead on 7 November 2023. [50] Starting January 2025 there will be a 16 week closure of the line to complete the project in an efficient manner. [51]

Fife Circle Line

In June 2022 work commenced on the partial electrification of the Fife Circle Line. [52] This will involve extending the existing Edinburgh area electrification to Dalmeny, and an isolated area of electrification between Kirkcaldy, Lochgelly and Ladybank. This will allow the Fife Circle services to be operated by battery electric multiple units whilst minimising capital expenditure on infrastructure, in particular avoiding the major expense of electrifying the Forth Bridge. Complete electrification would be possible at some future date. The partial electrification was due to be completed by December 2025. [53] Timeline as follows: [54] There has been some slippage in these target dates. [55]

Borders Railway scheme

Transport Scotland has put decarbonisation and electrification, possibly partial, fairly high on its agenda and some planning and application work started on Borders electrification in 2022. [56] [57] The power supply capacity is highly used at the north end of the line though grid feeders are being upgraded. [58] To allow for this and ensure enough future capacity, a grid feeder is being installed at Tweedbank. [59]

Under active consideration

Future phases of Decarbonisation Action Plan [47]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First ScotRail</span> Train operating company in Scotland

First ScotRail was a train operating company in Scotland owned by FirstGroup. It operated the ScotRail franchise between October 2004 and March 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow Queen Street railway station</span> Railway station in Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow Queen Street is a passenger railway terminus serving the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland. It is the smaller of the city's two mainline railway terminals and is the third-busiest station in Scotland behind Central and Edinburgh Waverley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fife Circle Line</span> Railway line in Eastern Scotland, UK

The Fife Circle Line is the local rail service north from Edinburgh. It links towns of south Fife and the coastal towns along the Firth of Forth before heading to Edinburgh. Operationally, the service is not strictly a circle route, but, rather, a point to point service that reverses at the Edinburgh end, and has a large bi-directional balloon loop at the Fife end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Scotland</span> Overview of the transport system in Scotland

Transport in Scotland is facilitated by road, rail, air and water networks. The Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament has control over most elements of transport policy within Scotland, with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport holding portfolio responsibility within the Scottish Government. Transport Scotland is the Executive Agency responsible for the Scottish transport network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croy railway station</span> Railway station in North Lanarkshire, Scotland

Croy railway station serves the village of Croy – as well as the nearby town of Kilsyth and parts of Cumbernauld – in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located on the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line, 11+1⁄2 miles (18.5 km) northeast of Glasgow Queen Street. The station services include the Glasgow–Edinburgh mainline and between Glasgow Queen Street and Stirling. Train services are provided by ScotRail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linlithgow railway station</span> Railway station in West Lothian, Scotland

Linlithgow railway station is a railway station serving the town of Linlithgow in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line, and is also served by ScotRail services from Edinburgh Waverley to Dunblane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edinburgh–Dunblane line</span> Railway line in Scotland

The Edinburgh–Dunblane line is a railway line in East Central Scotland. It links the city of Edinburgh via Falkirk to the city of Stirling and the town of Dunblane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumbernauld railway station</span> Railway station in North Lanarkshire, Scotland

Cumbernauld railway station serves the town of Cumbernauld in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is located on the Cumbernauld Line, 14 miles (23 km) north east of Glasgow Queen Street station and the Motherwell to Cumbernauld Line, 11+3⁄4 miles (18.9 km) north of Motherwell. Trains serving the station are operated by ScotRail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giffnock railway station</span> Railway station in East Renfrewshire, Scotland

Giffnock railway station is a railway station in the town of Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is on the East Kilbride branch of the Glasgow South Western Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edinburgh Airport Rail Link</span> Airport Rail link

The Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL) was a proposed rail link to Edinburgh Airport, Scotland. The project was passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2007, but following a change of government, was cancelled in September 2007 on the grounds of cost.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow Airport Rail Link</span> Proposed airport rail line

The Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) is a proposed link between Glasgow City Centre and Glasgow Airport. The original plans for an airport rail link were proposed during the 2000s to directly link Glasgow Central station with Glasgow Airport in Scotland. The link was intended for completion by 2013 and would have had a service of four trains per hour via Paisley Gilmour Street railway station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railway electrification in Great Britain</span> Electrification of railway lines

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of rail transport in Great Britain 1995 to date</span> History of British rail transport since 1995

The period from 1995 covers the history of rail transport in Great Britain following the privatisation of British Rail. During this period, passenger volumes have grown rapidly, safety has improved, and subsidies per journey have fallen. However, there is debate as to whether this is due to privatisation or to better government regulation. During this period, High Speed 1, the West Coast Main Line upgrade and Crossrail were completed and more construction projects are currently under way. The period also saw the demise of privately-owned Railtrack and its replacement with government-owned Network Rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levenmouth rail link</span> Rail line in Scotland

The Levenmouth rail link is a recently reopened 5 miles (8 km) branch line railway in Fife, Scotland. The link connects the town of Leven and other settlements in the Levenmouth conurbation with Thornton, and joins the Fife Circle Line at Thornton North Junction. The line was promoted by Fife Council and the South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SESTRAN). The plan was approved by the Scottish Government on 8 August 2019. The line was formally opened by the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, on 29 May 2024. Scheduled passenger services began on 2 June 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 380</span> British electric multiple unit trains operating in Scotland

The British Rail Class 380 Desiro is a type of electric multiple unit passenger train that operates on the National Rail network in Scotland, for ScotRail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edinburgh Gateway station</span> Railway station in Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh Gateway station is a railway station and interchange at Gogar in Edinburgh, Scotland, which opened on 11 December 2016. It is served by ScotRail and Edinburgh Trams, and serves both Gogar and Edinburgh Airport, to which it is connected by the tram line.

The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme or EGIP was an initiative funded by Transport Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government to increase capacity on the main railway line between Edinburgh and Glasgow, with new, longer electric trains running by 2017 and scheduled for full completion in 2019. It was expected to cost £742 million and delivered by Network Rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abellio ScotRail</span> British train operating company owned by Abellio

Abellio ScotRail, operating services under the name ScotRail, was the national train operating company of Scotland. A subsidiary of the Netherlands-based transport conglomerate Abellio, it operated the ScotRail franchise between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ScotRail</span> Train operating company in the United Kingdom

ScotRail Trains Limited, trading as ScotRail, is a Scottish train operating company that is publicly owned by Scottish Rail Holdings on behalf of the Scottish Government. It has been operating the ScotRail franchise as an operator of last resort since 1 April 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 Dennis, Gareth (22 May 2019). "The sparks effect: remembering how and why railway electrification works". Medium. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  2. ↑ "Electrification programme | Transport Scotland". www.transport.gov.scot. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  3. ↑ "Decarbonising Scotland's railway | Rail Media". 23 September 2021. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  4. ↑ Man, Kevin. "Larkfield to East Kilbride Electrification Project (LEKE) - Through alignment design" (PDF). Permanent Way Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Electrification programme | Transport Scotland". www.transport.gov.scot. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  6. ↑ DEM, David Shirres BSc CEng MIMechE (15 February 2024). "Electrifying Scotland". Rail Engineer. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  7. ↑ "Scotland sets out electrification ambitions". www.modernrailways.com. 27 August 2020. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  8. ↑ "Electrification of railways is the fast track to net zero in Scotland". HeraldScotland. 25 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  9. ↑ "Decarbonising Scotland's railway". Rail Engineer. 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "Glasgow Electric :: The Railways Archive". www.railwaysarchive.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  11. 1 2 Little, Stuart M. (December 1979). "Greater Glasgow's Railway Network". Scottish Transport. 33: 2–12. ISSN   0048-9808.
  12. ↑ "Route Improvements Weaver Junction to Glasgow" (PDF). Railway Archives. April 1968. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  13. ↑ Nock, O. S. (1974). Electric Euston to Glasgow. London: Allan. ISBN   0-7110-0530-3. OCLC   2283378. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Electric all the way: London to Glasgow" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "The Rebirth of AyrLine: Electrification to Ayr / Ardrossan / Largs - 1986/1987 :: The Railways Archive". www.railwaysarchive.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "ECML: Electrification as it used to be – Rail Engineer". 11 January 2018. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  17. ↑ Edinburgh - Carstairs electrification: project development paper. May 1978. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  18. ↑ "ScotRail targets further electrification schemes". www.railmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  19. ↑ Hewitt, Sam (6 October 2020). "Delivering a bigger, better railway for Scotland - The Railway Magazine". Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  20. ↑ Heubeck, Peter (January 2023). "Resurrecting Railways: Lessons from two Scottish projects" (PDF). Permanent Way Institute Journal. 141 (1): 34–42 – via Permanent Way Institute.
  21. ↑ "High-wire act". www.railmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  22. ↑ Keane, Kevin (2 May 2019). "Scotland to set 'faster' climate change target". Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  23. ↑ "Protecting Scotland's Future: the Government's Programme for Scotland 2019-2020 - gov.scot". gov.scot. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  24. ↑ "Scotland plans to decarbonise its railways by 2035". Global Railway Review. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  25. ↑ "Strategic Transport Projects Review Edinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvements" (PDF). Transport Scotland government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  26. ↑ "EGIP - Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme". www.egip.info. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  27. ↑ "It is surely time to jump-start electrification of our railways". HeraldScotland. 7 July 2012. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  28. ↑ "Glasgow Queen Street redevelopment". www.scotrail.co.uk. Scotrail. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  29. ↑ "First Minister marks completion of £120m Glasgow Queen Street rebuild". Scottish Construction Now. 5 October 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  30. ↑ Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan : Transport Scotland. Scotland. Scottish Government, Scotland. Transport Scotland. Glasgow. 2020. ISBN   978-1-911582-92-2. OCLC   1238497205. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  31. ↑ Hooper, Paul. "What the UK electrification network may look like in 2050" (PDF). The Permanent Way Institute.
  32. ↑ "Ambitious plans to transform Scottish rail network unveiled - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  33. ↑ "Prioritisation of rail projects". www.transport.gov.scot. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  34. ↑ "Massive investment energises Scotland's Railway electrification ambitions". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  35. ↑ "First new feeder station of green investment programme". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  36. ↑ "Scotland's Railway powering on with feeder station upgrades". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  37. ↑ Roden, Andy (November 2022). Sherratt (ed.). "Innovation in electrification". Modern Railways. 79 (890). Key Publishing: 73.
  38. ↑ "ENHANCEMENTS DELIVERY PLAN Scotland Milestones Schedule July 2022 update" (PDF). Network Rail. September 2022.
  39. ↑ "Scottish Ministers' High Level Output Specification (HLOS) - Control Period 7 - 2024 – 2029 | Transport Scotland". www.transport.gov.scot. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  40. ↑ "Scotland's Railway - Scotland Electrification Framework - Notice of Upcoming Procurement [PIN]". bidstats.uk. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  41. ↑ "Whifflet line to be electrified before 2014 Games". BBC News . BBC. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  42. ↑ "Row over plans for faster Glasgow-Edinburgh rail times". BBC News. 30 May 2013. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  43. ↑ "Edinburgh-Glasgow rail programme on track | Transport Scotland". www.transport.gov.scot. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  44. ↑ Man, Kevin. "Larkfield to East Kilbride Electrification Project (LEKE) - Through alignment design" (PDF). Permanent Way Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  45. ↑ Findlay, Nicola (18 May 2022). "Anger as plans to dual East Kilbride's rail line remain in the buffers". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  46. ↑ "Scotland's Fife route electrification project secures green light". Railway Technology. 2 June 2022. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  47. 1 2 "Prioritisation of rail projects". www.transport.gov.scot. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  48. ↑ Admin (19 August 2022). "Borders Railway electrification bid revealed". Midlothian View. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  49. ↑ "East Kilbride Enhancements". Scotlands Railway. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  50. ↑ "Green for go with first electric train for Glasgow-Barrhead line". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  51. ↑ "East Kilbride-Glasgow line to close for 16-week £140m electrification upgrade". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  52. ↑ "Piling work to get underway to electrify line to Fife". Network Rail. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  53. ↑ "Fife Electrification". Scotland's Railway. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  54. ↑ "Fife Electrification". Scotlands Railway. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  55. ↑ DEM, David Shirres BSc CEng MIMechE (15 February 2024). "Electrifying Scotland". Rail Engineer. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  56. ↑ Admin (19 August 2022). "Borders Railway electrification bid revealed". Midlothian View. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  57. ↑ "22/00547/SCR | EIA screening opinion for partial electrification of borders railway | Land At Borders Railway Newcriaghall Station to South West of Shawfair Station Shawfair Danderhall". planning-applications.midlothian.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  58. ↑ "Rail Technology Magazine August September 2022 Page 30". mag.railtechnologymagazine.com. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  59. ↑ "Network Rail powers ahead with new feeder station at Tweedbank". Border Telegraph. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  60. ↑ "Network Rail steps up works across the North East". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  61. ↑ "Rail Technology Magazine August September 2022 Page 30". mag.railtechnologymagazine.com. Retrieved 24 August 2022.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.