"It damages confidence": Frustration as Midland Main Line electrification is paused again

Regional political and industry leaders have reacted with disappointment and anger at the Government’s decision to pause Phase 3 of the Midlands Main Line electrification programme, stretching from Wigston onwards for the remainder of the “spending review period.”

The East Midlands already receives the lowest level of transport spending per head of any UK region or nation at just 56% of the UK average. 

East Midlands Councils and Transport for East Midlands (TfEM) said the decision to pause the project meant the region had been pushed back further still with no further rail schemes for area announced by the government.

Sir Peter Soulsby, Chair of TfEM and Mayor of Leicester, said: “We are deeply disappointed that the government has yet again paused work on electrifying the Midland Main Line.

“Electrification is not just a technical upgrade, it is a critical investment in the capacity, reliability and sustainability of our railway. It reduces carbon emissions, lowers operating costs, and provides the infrastructure that could transform local as well as inter-city rail services across the East Midlands.

“The Midland Main Line is now the only main line route that remains largely non-electrified. This puts our region at a disadvantage compared to others and undermines the national ambition to deliver a cost effective, reliable, low-carbon railway.”

The electrification of the Midland Main Line has been paused before, in 2015 under the Conservative government of David Cameron and then cancelled in 2017, before the Tories decided to press ahead again in 2021, backing the project as HS2 through the East Midlands to Leeds was cancelled.

As recently as October last year the current Labour administration said: "The extension of the electrification from Wigston to Nottingham, and to Sheffield via Derby, is in development and is planned to be completed by the early 2030s, subject to business case approvals and affordability considerations."

Referring to the constant pauses Soulsby added: “Each pause damages confidence, makes delivery more expensive and pushes back the benefits for passengers, freight and the environment.”

Phase 2 between Market Harborough and Wigston is currently on the cusp of being completed with commissioning of the track under way. Network Rail has also upgraded the wires south of Bedford, which it has delivered on-time and on-budget.

Procurement for the stretch of the line through Leicester and on towards East Midlands Parkway was paused in 2024. However, work to prepare the track and to lower the ground had been under way.

When speaking to RAIL, Network Rail could not confirm whether work on this section would continue, with a spokesperson adding: “We are progressing work which has already been funded under the Midland Main Line electrification programme. 

“We are still working through the detail of the spending review announcements and are rapidly developing plans to bring the programme to a controlled and safe stop.”

At the northern end of the Midland Mainline, in Sheffield, its mayor Oliver Coppard said there was a “feeling of frustration in the region” adding that the city had been repeatedly let down by Government decisions.

“We were told HS2 would come to Sheffield. That was cancelled. Now electrification of Midland Main Line is being paused. It’s one step-forward and one-step back.”

He added: “I’ve raised my concerns directly with the government, and I’ll keep doing so. South Yorkshire deserves a modern, reliable, and sustainable transport network - and I won’t stop fighting for it.”

The chair of the Derby-based rail industry body Rail Forum, Elaine Clark had written to the Government in May, urging the government to proceed with the next phase to help guarantee skilled jobs remained in the industry, a plea which has fallen on deaf ears.

Clark reiterated the region’s disappointment, telling RAIL: “We are extremely disappointed at the government’s decision to pause Midland Main Line Electrification (MMLe), a decision that will have a direct impact on supply chain businesses now. We risk losing further highly skilled individuals and jobs, which will ultimately add to costs for other projects.”

Shadow Rail Minister, Jerome Mayhew, added: "This was the government's opportunity to fix a problem that has been raised by the industry time and again - the feast and famine approach to infrastructure.  When it comes to electrifying lines France can build two miles and Germany three miles for the price of mile in the UK.  

"It's not just a missed opportunity, they (the government) are actually making things worse."