Midland Main Line electrification teams to be stood down this year as project is paused

Project teams working on Midland Main Line electrification are to be stood down this year after the government confirmed plans to install wires north of Wigston were being put on hold.

RAIL understands that the preliminary work for future electrification will also pause shortly.

Sources have told RAIL that a Network Rail briefing took place on July 8 with contractors and NR project teams, in which leadership said that any work which had been committed to on previous phases would be completed, but that all project teams would be “stood down” by the end of December.

Speaking to RAIL, Network Rail said it was “working through the detail” of the decision, adding: “We are progressing work which has already been funded under the Midland Main Line electrification programme.”

Work that has taken place includes lowering sections of the track between Wigston and East Midlands Parkway to allow wires to be fitted. That was taking place in June, with further dates also planned.

Passive provision where possible for four-tracking of the section of the MML between Wigston and Leicester has also taken place, but has now been stopped.

Phase 2 of the project between Kettering and Wigston has virtually been completed, with commissioning of the track currently under way. The government had included this project as one of the 17 rail projects it was backing over the next Spending Review period.

The cancellation drew an angry response from industry bodies including both the Railway Industry Association and Rail Forum, who have written a joint letter to Rail Minister Lord Hendy.

Elaine Clark OBE, CEO of Rail Forum, expressed frustration at what she called a “bad decision for the UK taxpayer and users of the MML”.

Lamenting that the scheme is “shovel ready” and capable of delivering tangible benefits within this Parliament, Clark added: “Stopping Midland Main Line electrification has caused wide concern and makes no sense.

“It’s a missed opportunity for regional growth and a setback for the government’s ‘whole system’ approach of integrating track and train through rail reform.”

RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan said the decision was holding back growth and threatened to extend the country’s boom-and-bust cycle.

“This decision risks delaying the benefits of electrification, undermining regional economic growth, and costing taxpayers millions,” he said.

The cancellation has also raised questions regarding plans for East Midlands Railway’s fleet modification.

Sources have told RAIL that the operator is currently looking at other plans for replacing its fleet of Class 170s and Class 158 diesel multiple units, which run on the Midland Main Line. The electrification project was featuring prominently in its thinking, despite the life extension work currently underway on its Class 170 ‘Turbostar’ fleet.

An EMR spokesperson said: “Future regional fleet options have, and continue, to form part of our long-term strategy for the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. There are multiple factors that need to be considered and currently no decision has been made at this stage.”