Electrification threads and resources index

[GRALISTAIR]

Thanks for your suggestions. Summary page post 1 updated. Here is a list of in progress to bring us up to speed hopefully.

IN PROGRESS August 2024

Midland Main Line Kettering to Wigston via Market Harborough - complete. Testing in progress. Nothing as yet north of Wigston

Transpennine North Upgrade

1. Stalybridge to Guide Bridge - complete but needs testing for entry into service.
2. Stalybridge to Huddersfield W2BC- planning and design in progress
3. Huddersfield - Dewsbury ---TWAO approved and work in progress
4. Church Fenton - Colton Jct - finished
5. East of Leeds - Micklefield to Garforth - piling in progress and other work

Glasgow to East Kilbride and Glasgow to Barrhead electrification

1. Glasgow-Barrhead - completed 2023, in service
2. Glasgow to East Kilbride - devegetation mainly complete, bridge work and civils and piling and masting in progress, due for completion before the end of 2025.

Wigan to Bolton electrification - civils being done plus piling, masts and cantilevers

Haymarket to Dalmeny electrification- mobilising to site.

Acton Main Line to Acton Wells Jct - start being made

South Wales Metro - much electrification but discontinuous

1. TAM Lines (Treherbert/Aberdare/Merthyr to Cathays) complete and energised.
2. Rhymney/Coryton/Cardiff Bay under construction.

HS2 (yes new build but it will be electrified from the start)

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Thanks for your suggestions. Summary page post 1 updated. Here is a list of in progress to bring us up to speed hopefully.

IN PROGRESS August 2024

Midland Main Line Kettering to Wigston via Market Harborough - complete. Testing in progress. Nothing as yet north of Wigston

Transpennine North Upgrade

1. Stalybridge to Guide Bridge - complete but needs testing for entry into service.
2. Stalybridge to Huddersfield W2BC- planning and design in progress
3. Huddersfield - Dewsbury ---TWAO approved and work in progress
4. Church Fenton - Colton Jct - finished
5. East of Leeds - Micklefield to Garforth - piling in progress and other work

East Kilbride-Barrhead electrification - devegetation mainly complete, bridge work and civils and piling and masting in progress

1. Glasgow-Barrhead - completed 2023, in service
2. East Kilbride branch - devegetation mainly complete, bridge work and civils and piling and masting in progress, due for completion before the end of 2025.

Wigan to Bolton electrification - civils being done plus piling, masts and cantilevers

Haymarket to Dalmeny electrification- mobilising to site.

Acton Main Line to Acton Wells Jct - start being made

South Wales Metro - much electrification but discontinuous

1. TAM Lines (Treherbert/Aberdare/Merthyr to Cathays) complete and energised.
2. Rhymney/Coryton/Cardiff Bay under construction.

HS2 (yes new build but it will be electrified from the start)

Thought Colton Jcn still needs to be completed before we get EIS on the Church Fentons'.

Also san an 802 at Man Victoria earlier left on diesel so TPE aren't running under the wires. Never saw a 769 to see what they did but signs still up to swap to diesel thats for sure.

 

[snowball]

I suggested in #388 that you might want to split the East Kilbride - Barrhead into two items, which you have done, sort of, but you have left them as subitems with the full original text as an overall heading.
Sorry to be pedantic but it was dislike of the wording of that text which was my reason for making the suggestion, and it's still there:

East Kilbride-Barrhead electrification - devegetation mainly complete, bridge work and civils and piling and masting in progress

"East Kilbride-Barrhead electrification" seems to me to suggest that there is a line or service from EK to Barrhead, whereas they are two routes from Glasgow (which share some track).

Furthermore "devegetation mainly complete, bridge work and civils and piling and masting in progress" remains as part of the overall heading, but it should only apply to one of the two routes.

Somewhat similarly, in the list of completed schemes further down the opening post, "Stirling- Dunblane -Alloa" seems to suggest that there is a route from Stirling to Alloa via Dunblane.

 

[zwk500]

Also san an 802 at Man Victoria earlier left on diesel so TPE aren't running under the wires. Never saw a 769 to see what they did but signs still up to swap to diesel thats for sure.

There is video on LinkedIn of a 769 departing Stalybridge with Pan Up.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

There is video on LinkedIn of a 769 departing Stalybridge with Pan Up.

On test or in passenger working?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I suggested in #388 that you might want to split the East Kilbride - Barrhead into two items, which you have done, sort of, but you have left them as subitems with the full original text as an overall heading.
Sorry to be pedantic but it was dislike of the wording of that text which was my reason for making the suggestion, and it's still there:

"East Kilbride-Barrhead electrification" seems to me to suggest that there is a line or service from EK to Barrhead, whereas they are two routes from Glasgow (which share some track).

Furthermore "devegetation mainly complete, bridge work and civils and piling and masting in progress" remains as part of the overall heading, but it should only apply to one of the two routes.

Somewhat similarly, in the list of completed schemes further down the opening post, "Stirling- Dunblane -Alloa" seems to suggest that there is a route from Stirling to Alloa via Dunblane.

I have had a go. What do you think now?

 

[snowball]

I have had a go. What do you think now?

Many thanks, now looks fine in #391, still needs a few words deleted in #1.

 

[zwk500]

On test or in passenger working?

I think on test in the video, but certainly it's using electric power. The main TPU thread I think has said TPE are waiting for APCO installation before they start using the wires.

 

[Last Hurrah]

Thanks for your suggestions. Summary page post 1 updated. Here is a list of in progress to bring us up to speed hopefully.

IN PROGRESS August 2024

1. South Wales Metro - much electrification but discontinuous
2. TAM Lines (Treherbert/Aberdare/Merthyr to Cathays) complete and energised.
3. Rhymney/Coryton/Cardiff Bay under construction.

2 : TAM Lines diverge at Radyr for Cathays or Ninian Park

Complete and energised to where masts end near NP

 

[Legolash2o]

I've updated the electrification map which can be found below.

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

 

[GRALISTAIR]

British electrification OHL dates (mainly 25kV plus the most significant 1.5KV DC)

I was doing a bit of research on British electrification OHL dates (mainly 25kV) so I would have all the info in the same place (and could put it in my Cobbs atlas). If this has been done before and put on the internet I couldn't find it ( ! ) so I thought it might be useful, but, also, are...

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Discontinuous electrification: is it really the best way forward

Discontiuous electrification: is it really the best way forward?

I had a look at some of the other Q&A's around that point and very disappointed to see that Peter Hendy apparently believes the unelectrified Bath and Temple Mills branches are satisfactory and that discontinuous electrification is the right answer to EWR. By contrast, I'm impressed about how...

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[GRALISTAIR]

January 2025 - June 2025 Summary of electrification threads

ECML vs GWML electrification masts

ECML vs GWML Electrification masts

I know that ECML electrification was done on the cheap and the opposite appears to have been acheived out of west London, but why the difference in physical presence between the two? The latter appear very intrusive aesthestically too. I'm also looking at electrification masts elsewhere...

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Cambridge to Kings Lynn electrification - resource gathering thread

Cambridge to King's Lynn Electrification - Gathering Resources

Hello, I am interested in gathering some resources on the existing Electrified Cambridge to King's Lynn route: I have noticed that there are significant sections of the route where two-track portals have been used, such as between Newmarket Road / Dimmocks Cote and Holt Fen Level Crossings...

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Electrification reference list 2x25kV Autotransformer sections

[Electrification] Reference List of 2x25kV AT systems

I thought it might be interesting to start a discussion to keep tab on all the stretches of AT fed railway for wider reference. I'll update this initial message as people inform and correct me. Pedantry and excessive detail (especially about substations) is welcomed and encouraged as I my...

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Electrification (actually electrification in the pipeline as of February 2025)

Possible electrification schemes in the pipeline?

Are there any more electrification projects in the pipeline after the MML and TPU are done?

www.railforums.co.uk

Why isn't Hull being electrified under the Transpennine upgrade programme?

https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...under-the-trans-pennine-route-upgrade.282156/

Electrical arching on OLE

Electrical Arcing OLE

Hi all, I need help from a professional please! I need to know if these images are examples of electrical arcing or sparking? Are they something to be concerned about? Will repeated events cause damage to the OLE equipment? Thanks for your help in advance.

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Early non standard electrification systems

Early Electrics (or ‘a non-standard, experimental or unique historic electrification questions thread’)

Hello, I am interested in the early years of British electrification. One question that I have been dying to ask is why was the bury line electrified with a strange side contact third rail, and why wasn’t standard third rail wasn’t chosen. This thread could also be used to discuss other...

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South Wales OLE Infrastructure pretty ugly

South Wales Electrified Infrastructure "Pretty Ugly" - Local Residents Say.

Goring Gap all over again? Through Bath to come and discontinuous electrification will be put in the frame by proposal. Bath being a UNESCO World Heritage Site in general and any overhead would be through Sydney Gardens in particular. I would be prepared to settle for some delicate catenary...

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OHLE works at Portabello

OHLE works at Portobello

Does anyone know what is happening here? Are the sidings on the north side of the ECML being wired up, or is this a prelude to re-aligning Portobello Junction? Photo is a rather poor shot grabbed from a Borders bound 170 about to leave the Up ECML at Portobello Junction. A new portal...

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What is more efficient - overhead or 3rd rail electrification?

What’s more efficient: overhead or 3rd rail electrification?

Living in North London I’ve always been puzzled why north of the river uses OHL and the south using 3rd rail which got my thinking: Out of the two which is more efficient to use , in my heard surely it’s got to be OHL as the wires should provide less resistance, thus consuming less energy and...

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South WCML substations

WCML substations

Just a quick and easy one here! What are the substations currently in use on the West Coast Main Line south of Rugby? I'm particularly interested the in locations of regular TSCs/SATS/ATSs. The feeder stations and mid-points I can kind of guess at based on easily available neutral section locations.

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Is Midland Main Line Electrification going to be completed?

MML Electrification: is it going to be completed?

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/mml-electrification-progress-updates.110445/ Hopefully the Spending Review on June the 11th will be good news for further electrification of the Midland Mainline.

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Fife rail electrification/decarbonisation

Fife Rail Electrification/Decarbonisation

This thread will be dedicated to the later phases of the ongoing Fife Circle Electrification project, and certain aspects around it. I’d like to ask an initial question. The B9130 road which goes over a cobble bridge at Markinch station is FAR too low to support any means of electric wires or...

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[Legolash2o]

Thanks for the updates. I will update the maps and publish.

The latest publish already has the Wigan route. I'm also tempted to see how much percentage just that route alone added the the electrification total.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

State of Play summary January 2025

Midland Main Line Kettering to Wigston via Market Harborough - complete.
North of Wigston - many reports of ground surveys and similar preparatory work in progress.

Transpennine North Upgrade

1. Stalybridge to Guide Bridge - complete
2. Stalybridge to Huddersfield W2BC- planning and design in progress
3. Huddersfield - Dewsbury ---Major work in progress and multiple "boots on the ground"
4. Church Fenton - Colton Jct - finished
5. East of Leeds - Micklefield to Garforth - piling in progress and other work

Glasgow to East Kilbride electrification

1. Glasgow to East Kilbride - devegetation mainly complete, bridge work and civils and piling and masting in progress. Also some wires in place. Due for completion before the end of 2025.

Wigan to Bolton electrification - Essentially complete and energised. Awaiting testing.

Haymarket to Dalmeny electrification- work has started.

Acton Main Line to Acton Wells Jct - work has started and some masts have been seen.

South Wales Metro - much electrification but discontinuous

1. TAM Lines (Treherbert/Aberdare/Merthyr to Cathays) complete and energised.
2. Rhymney/Coryton/Cardiff Bay under construction.

HS2 (yes new build but it will be electrified from the start)

 

[GRALISTAIR]

PWI presentation on YouTube.
Title: OLE - can the negatives outweigh the positives. Including the Q&A about 35 minutes long.
Speaker: John Dolan - read rather than presented in my opinion
Good section on the negatives of Hydrogen

 

[Trackbasher84]

Apart from Haymarket to Dalmeny is there no more electrification happening in scotland?

 

[mcmad]

Partial electrification of the Borders line and all 4 directions from Thornton Junction is the next phase but is all based on keeping the team currently delivering East Kilbride with a steady workstream rather than feast and famine of major projects then long pauses.

 

[Trackbasher84]

Some of the older stuff must be life expired by now round glasgow and the west coast? Good they're trying to be smart about things I heard a lot of guys left the industry because of the feast and famine

 

[mcmad]

The stuff around glasgow wouldn't likely be done by the same team doing the new works as the skill sets would be different. I believe that there are plans to start replacing some of the existing catenary around glasgow in the next few years.

 

[fandroid]

According to RailAdvent, ORR has issued an Authorisation to Place in Service (APiS) notice for the electrification system on Kettering to Wigston on the Midland Main Line, apparently meaning that section can now be used by normal train services (if they have any units available that can take advantage!). https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2025/0...main-line-declared-safe-and-ready-of-use.html

 

[zwk500]

According to RailAdvent, ORR has issued an Authorisation to Place in Service (APiS) notice for the electrification system on Kettering to Wigston on the Midland Main Line, apparently meaning that section can now be used by normal train services (if they have any units available that can take advantage!). https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2025/0...main-line-declared-safe-and-ready-of-use.html

According to the ORR, they did so on February 25th: https://www.orr.gov.uk/guidance-compliance/rail/health-safety/laws/interoperability/authorisations.

 

[John R]

I do wonder, given that NR is a publicly owned national operator, what benefit is there in having ORR involved in something like this. What’s wrong with NR satisfying itself that everything is ok? BR seemed to manage without having a regulator opine with all the additional paperwork and cost.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

It's just because of the structure of having a privatised railway and the history of network rail not officially/legally being a public body even though it is in practice. Being inefficient and obsequious is the nature of privatised public services

 

[The exile]

I do wonder, given that NR is a publicly owned national operator, what benefit is there in having ORR involved in something like this. What’s wrong with NR satisfying itself that everything is ok? BR seemed to manage without having a regulator opine with all the additional paperwork and cost.

In general, marking your own homework can lead you into temptation…..

 

[zwk500]

I do wonder, given that NR is a publicly owned national operator, what benefit is there in having ORR involved in something like this. What’s wrong with NR satisfying itself that everything is ok?

What's wrong is it could lead to perverse incentives to get things signed off quickly to meet deadlines, etc...

BR seemed to manage without having a regulator opine with all the additional paperwork and cost.

Didn't BR Need HMRI authorisation?

 

[fandroid]

According to the ORR, they did so on February 25th: https://www.orr.gov.uk/guidance-compliance/rail/health-safety/laws/interoperability/authorisations.

I did wonder how current that report was

 

[swt_passenger]

ORR‘s authorisation was covered in early March in the main MML thread. I’m not sure if it’s really needed in this thread as well.

MML Electrification: progress updates

The have been a lot of accidents at Attenborough crossing Does the presence or absence of ramps on the footbridge make any difference to that?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I do wonder, given that NR is a publicly owned national operator, what benefit is there in having ORR involved in something like this. What’s wrong with NR satisfying itself that everything is ok? BR seemed to manage without having a regulator opine with all the additional paperwork and cost.

Not entirely as the Railway Inspectorate were involved and would come out and have a visually look at the works but from my recollection on new DC electrification schemes I was involved in we didn't hand over a ream of paperwork to them just accompanied them on the visit often done in an inspection saloon.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

State of Play summary July 2025

Midland Main Line Kettering to Wigston via Market Harborough - complete.
North of Wigston - many reports of ground surveys and similar preparatory work in progress.

Transpennine North Upgrade

1. Stalybridge to Guide Bridge - complete and in use
2. Stalybridge to Huddersfield W2BC- planning and design in progress
3. Huddersfield - Dewsbury ---Major work in progress and multiple boots on the ground and compounds constructed
4. Project W4 : Dewsbury to Leeds - some work in progress.
5. Church Fenton - Colton Jct - finished
6. East of Leeds (Leeds - Church Fenton) - piling in progress and other work. Schemes E2,3 and 4 seem to have been rolled into one project.

Glasgow to East Kilbride electrification

1. Glasgow to East Kilbride - bridge work and civils and piling, masting and wiring progress. Due for completion before the end of 2025.

Wigan to Bolton electrification - Complete

Haymarket to Dalmeny electrification- work has started. Piling and masting has started

Acton Main Line to Acton Wells Jct - in progress and masting and wiring in progress.

South Wales Metro - much electrification but discontinuous

1. TAM Lines (Treherbert/Aberdare/Merthyr to Cathays) complete and energised.
2. Rhymney/Coryton/Cardiff Bay under construction.

HS2 (yes new build but it will be electrified from the start)

1. Contracts were awarded in Nov 2024
2. Colas for the OHL / catenary systems
3. Siemens Mobility Costain JV for the HV power systems

 

[John R]

Should TP North 5 read, Church Fenton to Garforth?