Further Midland Main Line electrification and York capacity projects paused

Major rail projects including further electrification of the Midland Main Line and capacity around York have been officially paused by the government.

After confirming support for schemes such as reopening the Portishead branch and new stations at Wellington and Cullompton, the fifth and final phase of South West Rail Resilience Project has also been put on hold by the Department for Transport.

The rail industry had been waiting for weeks for the rail network enhancement pipeline to be published following last month’s Spending Review. It has now said which projects will be backed with more than £92 billion of funding.

Speaking about the Midland Main Line (MML) electrification beyond Wigston, the DfT that costs and time meant it was focusing investment on other schemes in the Spending Review period (up to 2029/30), a decision which has frustrated many in the industry.

“We will continue to keep the potential for full electrification of the route under review as part of our plans to decarbonise our railways and as funding becomes available in future,” DfT said.

Despite numerous concerns about the capacity of the East Coast Main Line (ECML), the York Area Capacity and performance project is also paused until “the wider strategy for the ECML – aligned with Northern Powerhouse Rail aspirations – can be developed further”.

DfT said: “The benefits to passengers of the York scheme would only be realised as part of a wider package of investment on the ECML, which seeks to increase capacity between York and Newcastle.”

The Department did say it will continue to invest in ECML upgrades which will “deliver increased capacity and frequency on long-distance services, a reduction in journey times and support the rollout of electric rolling stock”. It also kept the ECML digital signalling project – something that’s well under way – on the list of projects that it will continue to back.

Down in the South West, the work to stabilise the cliffs near Teignmouth is on hold “but preliminary works to support cliff monitoring and drainage are progressing”.

“We have already invested significantly in securing the cliffs and making the coastline more resilience in the South West and need to focus our investment on other projects around the country.”

The DfT has said it will fund improving performance on the West Coast Main Line, saying it will “continue to invest in the power supply” at both ends of the route.

This will “enable the roll out of a new electric fleet of trains on Northern, a second London-Liverpool service, and smoother more reliable timetables with fewer delays for passengers”.

Other projects already under way and included in the pipeline are Cambridge South station (due to open next year), improving rail services across Manchester (which includes a third platform at Salford Crescent, something that’s currently being built) and the completion of the already installed Midland Main Line electrification to Wigston.

DfT also said it would protect the option to connect the Chiltern line to Old Oak Common in future.

“This means that the new station is future-proofed for potential new connections to the midlands and north by other routes, that could provide greater capacity and options for passengers,” DfT said.

Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline (RNEP) schemes – funding confirmed

TransPennine Route Upgrade

East West Rail to Cambridge

Midlands Rail Hub

New rail schemes for Wales

Adding capacity at Oxford

Improving Leeds Station Programme

Improving services in the Leeds area

Transforming rail services across Manchester

Reinstating passenger services to Portishead

New station at Wellington

New station at Cullompton

Reopening of Haxby station

New station at Cambridge South

Improving East Coast performance through digital signalling

Improving performance on the West Coast (south)

Improving performance on the West Coast (north)

Capacity and frequency improvements on the East Coast

Electrification from Kettering to Wigston

Redevelopment of Euston station

Protecting future services between Old Oak Common station and the Chiltern Line

Rail schemes – under consideration

York Area Capacity and Performance

South West Rail Resilience Programme Phase 5

Midland Main Line Electrification Phase 3

Peckham Rye Station Congestion Relief