Definitely Not MML Electrification progress updates: A6006 bridge reconstruction

[59CosG95]

Another bridge seems to be being demolished (SPC5-91; Flying Arches) on the 04/10/2025 and 05/10/2025, as per this NWR press release.
Marle Pit Hill is bridge SPC5-94.

Buses replace trains during East Midlands bridge demolition work this weekend

Passengers travelling on EMR’s Intercity route this weekend (Saturday 4 October and Sunday 5 October) are advised to allow more time to travel. Rail replacement buses will run between East Midlands Parkway and Leicester due to infrastructure improvement works taking place.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Network Rail will be carrying out the demolition of Flying Arch bridge at Sutton Bonington, near Loughborough.

The bridge was due to be demolished to make way for overhead line equipment as part of Midland Main Line electrification. While this major programme has been paused, it has been agreed with the Department for Transport to proceed with the bridge demolition, which will mean the route is ready if electrification resumes in the future...

 

[Legolash2o]

It is worth pointing out that this section of route (between Syston and Trent Jns) is currently only W8.

It's worse as it's actually W7

 

[WAO]

There was a RNEP Syston - Trent Gauge Enhancement proposal, which now seems to be in progress. Interestingly, from the NR flyer, DfT is being less coy (and more sympathetic) about the link with the wires. There must be money left in a budget.

The W12 clearance from Trent northwards and W10 B'ham - Wigston etc shows the value of this work.

What is the loading gauge of the wired MML south of Wigston?

WAO

 

[Legolash2o]

Between Wigston South Jn to Kettering it's W6A within NESA and not on any Permanent Gauge Certs yet either.

Between Bedford and Corby has a W10 and W12 Gauge Cert (but not W9).

 

[WAO]

Interestingly, OL electrification only seems to require W8, for the horns, presumably.

WAO

 

[Legolash2o]

Some regions and lines can take a while to do assessments. I wouldn't be surprised if the route is W10 where electrified, but not done the gauge assessments or paperwork.

There's been a lot of effort on the new 'A' gauges - although North Western & Central have added some nice W10 near Manchester in the last few months. NW&C seem to be on the ball when it comes to gauge clearance.

 

[Bald Rick]

What is the loading gauge of the wired MML south of Wigston?

For completeness, it’s W8 from Cricklewood to Bedford, and W6 from St Pancras to Cricklewood (except for the Hendon lines which are W8).

Now can someone explain how all these container trains are going to get to Radlett…

 

[hwl]

Now can someone explain how all these container trains are going to get to Radlett…

From the North on low floor wagons via Marston Vale and WCML with a reversals at Bedford and Radlett or sorting the paperwork for Kettering North Jn - Wigston given that modern electrification standards normally result in at least W8 clearance as a side effect and using the fasts to avoid Wymington Tunnel on the slows but certainly magic carpet from the south...


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Oct 2025 ==

Between Wigston South Jn to Kettering it's W6A within NESA and not on any Permanent Gauge Certs yet either.

Between Bedford and Corby has a W10 and W12 Gauge Cert (but not W9).

View attachment 189395

The grey gap between Kettering North and Wigston should be able to get something better after the recent works, this feels like a paperwork gap...

 

[Legolash2o]

The grey gap between Kettering North and Wigston should be able to get something better after the recent works, this feels like a paperwork gap...

Yeah, that's my suspicion too.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

We’re always asking why electrification schemes are so much more expensive here than elsewhere. Here’s one classic way to get the “paper cost” down - do as much work as you can under other budget headings….

So cynical but sadly so true. Yes Minister would be proud!

 

[londonmidland]

Now can someone explain how all these container trains are going to get to Radlett…

This is what it says from their Q&A website, for freight services coming from the south:

“The Midland Mainline is part of the Strategic Freight Network and is used to carry passengers and freight.

Like the majority of the rail network it is not gauge cleared to W10 / 12 standards. This does not mean that freight trains can’t use it, it just means that freight operators need to use combinations of low wagons or smaller containers.

Network Rail has plans to upgrade the gauge of Midland Mainline to the south of Radlett and once this work is completed it will make rail freight operations to and from Radlett easier to manage.”

 

[Yew]

Hmm, these "not electrification" upgrades have made the BBC:

Rail disruption warning over Sutton Bonington bridge demolition

The work will affect services on East Midlands Railway's Intercity route on Saturday and Sunday.

www.bbc.co.uk

Commuters will face disruption over the weekend as a railway bridge in Sutton Bonington is demolished.

The Flying Arch bridge will be dismantled to make way for the potential electrification of the Midland Mainline, despite that project being paused in the summer.

 

[Bald Rick]

This is what it says from their Q&A website, for freight services coming from the south:

Like the majority of the rail network it is not gauge cleared to W10 / 12 standards. This does not mean that freight trains can’t use it, it just means that freight operators need to use combinations of low wagons or smaller containers.

“Smaller containers” is not what the container operators use, as a rule. And “low wagons” of the type that would enable operaton into Radlett are not efficient for short hauls, for example from Felixstowe, Lomdon Bateway or Southampton to Radlett. Each of those ports is less than 2 hours HGV drive.

Network Rail has plans to upgrade the gauge of Midland Mainline to the south of Radlett...”

Does it? That’s news. I am really interested to see how clearance for W10 through Belsize tunnel, Elstree tunnels and the Tottenham North Curve tunnels (all three) can be delivered at a cost the developer of Radlett is willing to bear.

 

[edwin_m]

“Smaller containers” is not what the container operators use, as a rule.

They'll end up smaller if they try to send them through Belsize Tunnel...

 

[sh24]

Smaller containers aren’t popular with the shippers who will be using the Radlett warehousing. You can get 20-30% more product in a 9ft6 container v 8ft 6, at barely any more cost.

 

[Railwaycat]

It's worse as it's actually W7

View attachment 189389

So, there's a short stretch just north of Toton that's only W6? That doesn't make sense.

 

[Legolash2o]

So, there's a short stretch just north of Toton that's only W6? That doesn't make sense.

It's W12 but here's just a route next to it for a Stanton line that's W6.

 

[Rhydgaled]

How much of the MML electrification is still in the pipeline for delivery? I haven't been keeping up with developments recently - my understanding was that the main route was progressing slowly northwards from Kettering, but I presume was reduced in scope a bit when most of HS2 East was scrapped.

 

[John R]

How much of the MML electrification is still in the pipeline for delivery? I haven't been keeping up with developments recently - my understanding was that the main route was progressing slowly northwards from Kettering, but I presume was reduced in scope a bit when most of HS2 East was scrapped.

Nothing. It’s been “paused”, which is politician speak for “cancelled, but we don’t want to use that word”.

 

[Legolash2o]

How much of the MML electrification is still in the pipeline for delivery? I haven't been keeping up with developments recently - my understanding was that the main route was progressing slowly northwards from Kettering, but I presume was reduced in scope a bit when most of HS2 East was scrapped.

It's completed up to Wigston South Jn but further work has been paused at the moment.

https://gbrailwaydata.co.uk/Public/ElectrificationMap

 

[WAO]

IIRC, there was a press article recently, perhaps in MR, giving the percentages of bridge lifts and clearance work completed for the MMLEP - remember this is the SECOND pause! Others may be able to reference it quickly, although it may be a little off topic.

In addition, there is the related freight gauge enhancement program simmering away, which appears to be the claimed justification for the present bridgework. NR does now seem to communicate these matters through the tea leaves.

Still, well done NR for continuing real infrastructure investment.

WAO

 

[londonmidland]

Presumably these bridge works are for intermodal services which will utilise the Syston East curve?

 

[Railwaycat]

It's W12 but here's just a route next to it for a Stanton line that's W6.

View attachment 189737

Thanks - can't see the Stanton branch ever seeing any traffic again!

 

[londonmidland]

Some pictures here from Network Rail X of the before and after bridge demolition.

Last weekend we safely removed Flying Arch bridge near Loughborough as part of Midland Main Line improvements.

It provides necessary clearance for larger freight trains to run on this section of the line, and means the route is ready if electrification resumes in future.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Oct 2025 ==

Not sure if there’s active construction here but I noticed there’s some sort electrical framework being installed into the ground just north of Syston station car park.

Don’t know what it’s for, or if it’s related to potential, future electrification?

 

[InTheEastMids]

In ongoing MMLE non-progress - this is the most appropriate open thread I could find - there was TV coverage of MML-non-E on Politics East Midlands last weekend, which starts about 5 minutes in from the link to iPlayer below.

Summary
- sets MMLE in the context of low capital spending by central government on the East Midlands
- The stop/go nature of MMLE from 1983, 2019 and 2025 that mean Derby/Leicester/Nottingham and Sheffield are the last major cities not to have any electrification (Plymouth would like a word, I expect)
- How MMLE was recommitted by Sunak Govt as compensation for HS2 cancellation, but then abruptly cancelled by Starmer, as we all know
- Features an interview with Furrer & Frey UK head Noel Dolphin, standing in a largely empty factory in Beeston that was set up because MMLE was progressing

Politics East Midlands - 25/01/2026

Peter Saull with political news, interviews and debate.

www.bbc.co.uk

I found that watching on my phone whilst very slowly rotating the screen around gave the best results because it gives a rolling programme on electrification which I think is about as good as we can hope for.

In other news, there seems to be construction off the Braybrook road south of Market Harborough. This seems to be the construction of a new bridge over the railway near the Braybrook Supply Point, replacing one demolished last year. This bridge forms the main access to a proposed new battery development that will connect to National Grid's network at the substation.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

In other news, there seems to be construction off the Braybrook road south of Market Harborough. This seems to be the construction of a new bridge over the railway near the Braybrook Supply Point, replacing one demolished last year. This bridge forms the main access to a proposed new battery development that will connect to National Grid's network at the substation.

That's interesting! So Market Harborough 400kV wasn't just built for the railway supply but has other strategic uses

 

[edwin_m]

That's interesting! So Market Harborough 400kV wasn't just built for the railway supply but has other strategic uses

I guess the batteries can charge from the Grid during the night when the railway doesn't need the power, and possibly even supply the railway during the day.

 

[The exile]

- The stop/go nature of MMLE from 1983, 2019 and 2025 that mean Derby/Leicester/Nottingham and Sheffield are the last major cities not to have any electrification (Plymouth would like a word, I expect)

No electrically operated trains stop in the city of Bristol either. OK - plenty of bi-modes, but running on diesel (as will soon be the case for the East Midlands cities)

 

[InTheEastMids]

That's interesting! So Market Harborough 400kV wasn't just built for the railway supply but has other strategic uses

There are a number of non-rail projects looking to connect at this site, and other rail GSP sites, like Patford Bridge. This data is available if you go looking at NESO's registers. And you can also see some of Network Rail's future demand connections here too.

I guess the batteries can charge from the Grid during the night when the railway doesn't need the power, and possibly even supply the railway during the day.

They may not use any transformers or switchgear that have been installed to provide NR's connection, as railway demand is ultimately 25 kV AC whereas other kinds of generators, storage or demand will normally get a 3-phase AC connection at one of the "standard" voltages in GB or 400/275/132/33/11 kV.

No electrically operated trains stop in the city of Bristol either. OK - plenty of bi-modes, but running on diesel (as will soon be the case for the East Midlands cities)

I think people saying these things will argue that Bristol Parkway counts as Bristol. I don't make the rules!

 

[John R]

No electrically operated trains stop in the city of Bristol either. OK - plenty of bi-modes, but running on diesel (as will soon be the case for the East Midlands cities)

And for those unfamiliar with the geography of the area, Bristol Parkway is in South Gloucestershire.