Electrification threads and resources index

[GRALISTAIR]

Should TP North 5 read, Church Fenton to Garforth?

As E2,3,4 seem to be one project now I don't think it really matters but I have edited the post.

 

[InTheEastMids]

State of Play summary July 2025

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

To flesh out the current detail on HS2, perhaps worth recording here that the current state of play is that contracts were awarded in Nov 2024
Colas for the OHL / catenary systems
Siemens Mobility Costain JV for the HV power systems

Is it worth dropping in a line in the next update, that EWR have consulted about electrification strategy?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

To flesh out the current detail on HS2, perhaps worth recording here that the current state of play is that contracts were awarded in Nov 2024
Colas for the OHL / catenary systems
Siemens Mobility Costain JV for the HV power systems

Noted. Edited and updated. Thank you

Is it worth dropping in a line in the next update, that EWR have consulted about electrification strategy?

I will take a look in January 2026 update when there should be more detail anyway- hopefully!

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

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

Is colton jcn to church fenton not in use yet?

when is Wigan-Bolton going to see use?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

July to December 2025 Electrification threads.

Recharging battery trains from 25kV overhead line

Recharging battery trains from 25kV overhead line

Most battery EMUs and tri-mode trains are recharged from 25kV overhead lines. What needs to be considered when designing OHLE in areas where battery EMUs are likely to be used in the future (which probably means all areas)? Particular questions I have include: What currents do BEMUs take when...

www.railforums.co.uk

Dundee electrification plans

Dundee electrification plans

Delivery times for these are quite lengthy. No doubt the 3 units are in safe storage at Cadder until the Fife Circle or ACB schemes are authorised for installation. Not currently authorised. The other could possibly be for Dundee. mods note - split from this thread...

www.railforums.co.uk

Fife Rail 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...

www.railforums.co.uk

Latest battery train results- implications on future electrification

What implications does the latest battery train results have on future UK electrification ?.

Took the following posts from the class 230 thread as it looks like these will feed speculation on UK electrification. which risks pulling the 230 thread off topic. My reply at the bottom but quoted all these to keep context. It did complete its Reading, Paddington, Oxford, Paddington, Reading...

www.railforums.co.uk

Electrification reference list - grid connections in 3rd rail land

[Electrification reference list] Grid connections/traction power networks on DC railways

I've been looking into how the railway's 33kV AC feeders and how they are supplied by the 'Grid' power network(s) and have noticed two general formats that I'll explain in a couple diagrams. a)b) The arrangement in A (left) is by far the most common: here the railway gets one or more 33kV...

www.railforums.co.uk

Scottish 25kv substations, grid connections, feeder stations and TSC(Track Sectioning Cabinets)

Scottish 25kV substations: grid connections/feeder stations/TSCs

I've decided it's finally time to turn my attention on Britain's densest and most complex 25kV network. As always, my quest is to find out which lines are Normally Fed by which Feeder Stations and I feel I have guessed as much as I reasonably can. My first task was to chart out all the neutral...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Last Hurrah]

South Wales Metro

1 : TAM Lines (Treherbert / Aberdare / Merthyr to Cathays

At Radyr the line south diverges to either Cathays or Ninian Park

Electrification is continued through Danescourt, Fairwater & Waungron Park stations towards Ninian Park

N.B. The TFW/ Network Rail “Border” is west of Ninian Park station


Slight alteration requested for accuracy . . .

Thank you . .

 

[Meole]

Dismay at government pause to rail electrification​

East Midlands council leaders have said they are dismayed at the government's decision to indefinitely pause the northwards electrification of the Midland Mainline.

The London to Sheffield railway line has been upgraded to take electric trains as far as South Wigston in Leicestershire, but the Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed on Tuesday the further extension of the project was on hold.

A government spending review said funds would be focused on other transport schemes.

Dismay at government pause to Midland Mainline electrification

Councils say full electrification is essential as the government diverts funding elsewhere.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Some recent electrification related YouTube videos many from the PWI

Core Valley Lines - Smart creation of a new electric railway

I don't mind the gap- discontinuous electrification by Garry Keenor (includes detailed definitions)

Upgrading existing electrification to meet customer needs

The impact of electrification on the historic environment (this presentation features the TRU project heavily

 

[NJR2310]

Hi, can I quickly ask is Church Fenton - Colton Jct electrification in use/live yet?

 

[GraphitProjekt]

TPE trains have been able to use wires until around ulleskelf since 03/08 with APCO beacons live since then.

 

[John R]

The summary could be updated now to note that installation of masts is now under way on the Levenmouth branch (as noted by the photos and video on the relevant thread).

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The summary could be updated now to note that installation of masts is now under way on the Levenmouth branch (as noted by the photos and video on the relevant thread).

Done. Thanks

 

[John R]

Done. Thanks

Thanks. Sorry, I've also just noticed that under the South Wales scheme, Coryton and Caerphilly are now energised and in use. Only the section north of Caerphilly remains to be completed north of Cardiff, along with the Cardiff Bay branch.

 

[Edvid]

When the MMLE 'pause' was made public on 8 July eagle-eyed readers may have noticed NR published an article giving notice of MMLE works that same day. This extract from a recent Informed Sources (Modern Railways) article is quite telling:

I’ve been campaigning for a rolling programme of electrification for more than 40 years now. The out-of-the-blue ‘pausing’ of Phase 3 of the Midland Main Line (MML) electrification, announced by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander on 8 July, could be seen as further confirmation that I’m not much cop at this self-appointed task.
[...]
I say “out of the blue”, but, earlier this year, the word in Whitehall was that approval for the completion of the MML electrification would be delayed by two years. However, I gather that the first Network Rail’s MML electrification team knew about the pause was the DfT press release.

On the positive side, the OLE125 video (thank you GRALISTAIR) is useful for those interested in the background and specifics of making the MML Mk3b OLE 125mph-capable, such as adjusting the contact/catenary tension rating from the standard 11/11kN to 13/10.18kN.

Upgrading existing electrification to meet customer needs

 

[GRALISTAIR]

If MML OHL electrification does restart- it will be in a new thread - if the mods agree of course.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Just came across a review for this book. Published a few months back

Written by John Buxton and Don Heath, two experienced rail professionals, Lines of Power delivers a comprehensive record of the stuttering progress of electrification and modernisation of Britain’s railway network, exposing the furtive manoeuvring by competing factions within the railway industry during the 1950s. The book is highly critical of the excessive scepticism of the Department of Transport (DoT later DfT) and the frequent disproportionate, and often imprudent, interventions by politicians that have collectively thwarted the opportunity to progress a more comprehensive and cost effective ‘rolling programme’ of electrification.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Thank you. I have ordered a copy on Amazon.

 

[TrainViation]

@GRALISTAIR Just to let you know about this.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Really great news thank you.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

My copy of this great resource has arrived.
Lines of Power: The Electrification of British Railways: Trials, tribulations and triumphs.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Rail infrastructure and assets | ORR Data Portal

Latest electrification statistics with an excel spreadsheet with raw data - sorry about the formatting - I will try and improve.

Table 6320 - Infrastructure on the mainline

Nation

Time period

Route open for traffic (kilometres)

Electrified route open for traffic (kilometres)

Track length (kilometres)

Electrified track length (kilometres)

New electrification projects track length (kilometres)

15,747 6200 31236 14663 120

Great Britain

As of 31 March 2025

 

[Snow1964]

Rail infrastructure and assets | ORR Data Portal

Latest electrification statistics with an excel spreadsheet with raw data - sorry about the formatting - I will try and improve.

Table 6320 - Infrastructure on the mainline

Nation

Time period

Route open for traffic (kilometres)

Electrified route open for traffic (kilometres)

Track length (kilometres)

Electrified track length (kilometres)

New electrification projects track length (kilometres)

15,747 6200 31236 14663 120

Great Britain

As of 31 March 2025

120km track length of projects.
If they did that 10 times, adding 1200 km
then over half the track 15,618 km would be electrified.

But how many years (decades ?) will that take.

 

[Roger B]

Rail infrastructure and assets | ORR Data Portal

Latest electrification statistics with an excel spreadsheet with raw data - sorry about the formatting - I will try and improve.

Table 6320 - Infrastructure on the mainline

Nation

Time period

Route open for traffic (kilometres)

Electrified route open for traffic (kilometres)

Track length (kilometres)

Electrified track length (kilometres)

New electrification projects track length (kilometres)

15,747 6200 31236 14663 120

Great Britain

As of 31 March 2025

Very interesting stats.

I've tried to tidy it up a bit, and add percentages for comparison.

But there are a few very odd looking figures - the main ones being that electrified track / routes actually DECREASES year on year in a few instances!
Some are only a few miles, but others are significantly more, including:
1. Scotland March 2019 (routes) 989, Scotland March 2020 (routes) 885 - decrease of 104 miles
2. Britain March 2018 (track) 14,129, Britain March 2019 (track) 14,059 - decrease of 70 miles
3. England March 2018 (track) 12,189, England 2019 (track) 12,113 - decrease of 76 (probably linked with #2 above)
4. Scotland March 2019 (track) 1,946, Scotland March 2020 (track) 1,773 - decrease of 173 (probably linked with #1 above)

Any ideas what's caused these odd decreases, I'm struggling to think of any significant closure of electrified routes or transfer from National Rail to some other authority (eg Transport for London).

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Any ideas what's caused these odd decreases, I'm struggling to think of any significant closure of electrified routes or transfer from National Rail to some other authority (eg Transport for London).

I seem to recall it was a one-off adjustment to the way they do the calculations and present data.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

January 2026 - June 30th 2026 Electrification Threads

Longest electrified stretch fed from one end

Longest electrified stretch fed from one end?

Where is the longest stretch of electrified track in GB that is normally fed from one end only? This could be (1) a stretch from a feeder station to the end of a line or (2) a stretch from a feeder station to a point where electrification ends and the line continues unelectrified or (3) a...

www.railforums.co.uk

Converting 3rd rail to overhead

Converting 3rd Rail to Overhead

Following on from the Diesel vs Electric Thread was thinking - how would it go about converting current 3rd Rail region into overhead? Assuming there would be advantages? Would it be better for something like the Brighton Mainline? What about the current dead spots, such as Marshlink Line or...

www.railforums.co.uk

Should the 3rd rail ban be lifted?

Should the third rail ban be lifted?

Ive been thinking for a few days, should the third rail ban be lifted? Lines like the West of England Line and the North Downs Line are currently having issues in finding a replacement for the DMUs and the government wants to ban new vehicles with fossil fuels. Third rail is quicker and cheaper...

www.railforums.co.uk

Swansea electrification and new stations

Swansea electrification and new stations proposals

Swansea Council has announced plans to restart electrification on the railway line from Swansea to Cardiff, as well as new stations and some reopened lines. Multi-million pound rail and bus improvements could transform public transport, boost business and create jobs in and around Swansea...

www.railforums.co.uk

Short (<15 miles) lines useful to electrify

Short (under 15 miles) lines that would be useful to electrify

What are some short-ish lines that would be easy enough to electrify and would have a positive impact on the network as a whole? Obviously electrifying any section of track isn't easy, but let's say relatively easy comparing it to other projects (cough cough MML) I'll suggest Newark to...

www.railforums.co.uk

OLE block dropper spacing

OLE Block Dropper Spacing

On dropper schedules, block droppers holding the contact wire and contenary wire are usually placed 9m away from each bridge arm, usually on the entry and exit. This makes sense to me. What I would like to learn more about is the common practice of installing block droppers either side of the...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Peter Dearman gives a great lecture at the PWI on discontinuous electrification - he makes the case both for and against. A bit technical in places but also quite humorous.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Yeah, that was a great watch. Drawing parallels between 1955 dieselisation and an era we're about to walk into is food for thought for sure.
I was also very intrigued by the anecdote about Tottenham Supergrid blowing up some point in the mid 1980s and taking out apparently 6 feeder stations in London. Sounds like quite the event

 

[reddragon]

Overall a very well informed (as you would expect) presentation.

Funny but my school project was on the electrification of the R-U line! I even presented it to British Rail at Liverpool Street, so maybe he was there (I doubt it).

One huge gaping inaccuracy is about batteries. Long Haul HGVs are now working trouble free all over the world, able to do the same routes as diesel trucks. In Europe they have huge advantages on hilly routes such as the Alps. The next error is that he is wholly wrong on material supplies for batteries. The only issue is supply chains and not availability. This is ramping up to meet demand.

The reality is that battery packs need to be as changeable as a diesel GPU. Some will need repair (cells), servicing (coolant) and even replacement / upgrading. A battery GPU should be considered the same as a diesel GPU.

 

[InTheEastMids]

One huge gaping inaccuracy is about batteries. Long Haul HGVs are now working trouble free all over the world, able to do the same routes as diesel trucks. In Europe they have huge advantages on hilly routes such as the Alps. The next error is that he is wholly wrong on material supplies for batteries. The only issue is supply chains and not availability. This is ramping up to meet demand.

Agree with this, am seeing very similar themes from projects I'm taking care of. Also a shift to alternative chemistries without problematic elements like nickel and cobalt. If people insist on continuing to use Cl66, the argument for rail freight will basically be because our road network is terrible.

However - and more importantly - I agree with the general thrust of the presentation.

Discontinuous electrification with batteries will - in all its forms - doubtless be huge thing. Every electric train should probably have a battery that, at minimum, gives some combination of limp-mode and several hours of hotel power.

However, as noted the risk is that at a senior level, everybody believes discontinuous electrification will be quick, cheap and effective (generally you can only ever have 2/3). These senior people tend to come either from commercial/financial or operational/delivery backgrounds. Neither will generally provide competence in managing technology risk. It is human nature to realise that show-stopping issue was a detail thought to be pretty insignificant at an earlier time.

So with quite limited demos in the UK, they have been persuaded that battery trains are the answer, buy a rolling stock industry that has an absolutely dismal record of delivery. It'll work in the end, but how much time, money and effort will be seen to have been wasted along the way?

 

[vic-rijrode]

I was also very intrigued by the anecdote about Tottenham Supergrid blowing up some point in the mid 1980s...

Very Spursy!

I get my coat...