Electrification

Network Rail engineers carry out wiring work on the Midland Main Line. NETWORK RAIL.

News

Frustration as Midland Main Line electrification is paused again

Political and industry figures express their disappointment at the government decision to stop MML electrification.

Midland Main Line 10 Jul

An East Midlands Railway Class 222 approaches Braybrooke on the Midland Main Line. PAUL BIGGS.

News

Further MML electrification and York capacity projects paused

Both schemes are on a list of four which are on hold for now.

Midland Main Line 8 Jul

At York on April 20, Grand Central 180102 has arrived with the 1213 Sunderland-London King’s Cross, while CrossCountry 220018 and 221132 wait with the 1105 Edinburgh-Penzance. STEVE WIDDOWSON.

News

UK "could have diesel trains for 30 years" amid lack of electrification strategy

Rail Live panellist says strategy similar to that in Germany should be in place in the UK.

Electrification 8 Jul

GWR battery train 230001 at West Ealing station. JOE CAMPBELL.

News

GWR battery train trial "shows technology can replace diesel units"

Great Western Railway says battery and fast-charging technology can prove discontinuous electrification can work.

Great Western Railway 2 Jul

Network Rail engineers carry out wiring work on the Midland Main Line

News

Rail electrification workforce has halved since 2018, study suggests

Head of UK Projects at Furrer + Frey, Noel Dolphin told Rail Live numbers could fall even further.

Electrification 30 Jun

The latest section of the MML between Kettering and Wigston was recently delivered on time and under budget by Network Rail. However, there has been no clarity on when the next phase could begin. NETWORK RAIL.

News

More Midland Main Line electrification preparation work to take place

Network Rail is to carry out work on the route north of Wigston, where wires currently end.

Midland Main Line 13 Jun

Northern Class 323 unit arrives at Bolton in the early hours of June 3 after becoming the first electric-powered train to run from Wigan. NETWORK RAIL.

News

First electric-powered train runs between Wigan and Bolton

First run is significant milestone in project to have electric traction on passenger services later this summer.

Electrification 4 Jun

News

Midland Main Line electrification questions to remain unanswered until Spending Review

Industry warns government of "lost continuity and damaging supplier confidence".

Midland Main Line 28 May

Feature

How to save a piece of history from the scrapyard

Preserving the past takes passion and perseverance. Chris Howe reports on the successful effort to find a home for a discarded Merseyrail Class 57 electric unit

Electrification 23 May

News

Council leader fears city will be left behind in Transpennine Route Upgrade

"There is too little detail from the government on how exactly funding will support the ambitious plans we have."

Transpennine Route Upgrade 24 Apr

News

Case for Oxford electrification set to be made again as infrastructure remains 'totally unused'

Local politicians want to push case to get wires into Oxford years after plan was abandoned.

Electrification 4 Mar

Volk’s Electric Railway, Brighton, postcard. PHOTO COLLECTION OF SIMON BRADLEY.

Feature

Railway 200 Then and Now: Electrification's tale of Volk and volts

Parallel's from the past in our present: Our first extract from Bradley’s Railway Guide: A Journey Through Two Centuries of British Railway History 1825-2025.

Electrification 4 Mar

The newly installed power lines between Wigan and Bolton. NETWORK RAIL.

News

Northern outlines plans for Wigan-Bolton route once OLE is commissioned

Overhead wires have been switched on with further testing needed before electric-powered passenger services can run.

Electrification 12 Feb

A Transport for Wales Class 756 at Mountain Ash station

News

Transport for Wales' Class 756 to serve new destinations from spring

More lines of the South Wales Metro are close to be ready for electric traction

Transport for Wales 27 Jan

The trial train arrives at West Ealing, where it will receive a fast-charge after its journey to Greenford and back. JOE CAMPBELL

Feature

Behind the scenes: GWR trials fast-charging battery technology

Joe Campbell joins the team conducting trials of fast-charge battery technology on the West Ealing to Greenford branch.

Electrification 15 Jan

News

Overhead wires between Wigan and Bolton switched on days after £100,000 cable theft

Passenger trains along the route are due to be powered by the wires later this year

Electrification 6 Jan

Ongoing work to electrify the railway between Wigan and Bolton. NETWORK RAIL.

News

Drone patrols in operation after £100,000 cable stolen from electrification project

The theft was discovered over the Christmas period days before the line was set to be energised

Network Rail 31 Dec

Class 802 fitted with battery for trial. HITACHI RAIL

Feature

Hitachi Rail's bold experiment with battery-electric bi-mode units

Hitachi Rail has been carrying out trials on a Class 802 aimed at advancing the use of battery-electric bi-mode units. Richard Wilcock finds out more.

Electrification 13 Dec

News

Minister provides Midland Main Line electrification update as Network Rail plans next stage of work

The government was asked about the Midland Main Line electrification in the House of Commons

Midland Main Line 26 Nov

News

East West Rail Unveils Electrification Plans

East West Rail (EWR) has announced its preference for green traction power as it confirmed that it would only be partly electrifying the line.

East West Rail 1 Nov

Electrification

Frustration as Midland Main Line electrification is paused again

Further MML electrification and York capacity projects paused

UK "could have diesel trains for 30 years" amid lack of electrification strategy

GWR battery train trial "shows technology can replace diesel units"

Rail electrification workforce has halved since 2018, study suggests

More Midland Main Line electrification preparation work to take place

First electric-powered train runs between Wigan and Bolton

Midland Main Line electrification questions to remain unanswered until Spending Review

How to save a piece of history from the scrapyard

Council leader fears city will be left behind in Transpennine Route Upgrade

Case for Oxford electrification set to be made again as infrastructure remains 'totally unused'

Railway 200 Then and Now: Electrification's tale of Volk and volts

Northern outlines plans for Wigan-Bolton route once OLE is commissioned

Transport for Wales' Class 756 to serve new destinations from spring

Behind the scenes: GWR trials fast-charging battery technology

Overhead wires between Wigan and Bolton switched on days after £100,000 cable theft

Drone patrols in operation after £100,000 cable stolen from electrification project

Hitachi Rail's bold experiment with battery-electric bi-mode units

Minister provides Midland Main Line electrification update as Network Rail plans next stage of work

East West Rail Unveils Electrification Plans

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

Electrification

Frustration as Midland Main Line electrification is paused again

Further MML electrification and York capacity projects paused

UK "could have diesel trains for 30 years" amid lack of electrification strategy

GWR battery train trial "shows technology can replace diesel units"

Rail electrification workforce has halved since 2018, study suggests

More Midland Main Line electrification preparation work to take place

First electric-powered train runs between Wigan and Bolton

Midland Main Line electrification questions to remain unanswered until Spending Review

How to save a piece of history from the scrapyard

Council leader fears city will be left behind in Transpennine Route Upgrade

Case for Oxford electrification set to be made again as infrastructure remains 'totally unused'

Railway 200 Then and Now: Electrification's tale of Volk and volts

Northern outlines plans for Wigan-Bolton route once OLE is commissioned

Transport for Wales' Class 756 to serve new destinations from spring

Behind the scenes: GWR trials fast-charging battery technology

Overhead wires between Wigan and Bolton switched on days after £100,000 cable theft

Drone patrols in operation after £100,000 cable stolen from electrification project

Hitachi Rail's bold experiment with battery-electric bi-mode units

Minister provides Midland Main Line electrification update as Network Rail plans next stage of work

East West Rail Unveils Electrification Plans

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

UK "fails to provide trains people want or like"

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

Further MML electrification and York capacity projects paused

DB Cargo sells three more Class 90s for reuse

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected