The next phase of the Midland Main Line Electrification Project between London and Wigston, Leicestershire, has begun with the first drills breaking ground.
Network Rail needs to drive steel columns into the ground to lay the foundations for the overhead wire equipment.
The route between London and Corby has already been upgraded in 2021, the next phase will see the section between Market Harborough and Wigston electrified.
Most of the work is set to be completed overnight whilst no trains are running.
The latest round of piling will run until August 2023 ahead of the wire installation in 2023.
Gavin Crook, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said: “Starting this next phase of work is a huge step forward for the Midland Main Line Upgrade. It adds to the important work we've already completed to transform journeys between London and Corby, and sees us work towards a fully electrified route.
“We're excited to offer passengers a more reliable, greener railway which is fit for the future, encourages more people to travel by train, and supports economic growth along the way.”
The new electrical equipment is taking up former Wigston Magana Station platform space and the former 4 track lines to Leicester are three lines, with bi directional freight line swaping from left to right of the two main lines is just pathetic. If the wires stop at Wigston then they may as well reopen the station and sitch power there. Not to mention the cock up of allowing building on the ivanhoe line former north curve land in recent years means there will be a need to reverse any reintroduced Burton to Leicester trains somewhere south of Leicester it doesn’t take much thinking to realise a case for Wigston and or Kinighton stations (highly populated suburbs) should be reopened.
Because the current electrification scheme only covers a pitiful 12 miles and does not even reach Leicester, the new Aurora trains being built
for the line will have to carry diesel engines, with all the equipment needed to switch between electric and diesel power. This will add significantly to the cost of these trains, and will also increase their weight, resulting in large diesel fuel bills and also increased electricity costs. If and when the lines to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield are electrified, this extra equipment will be obsolete.
The lack of firm contracts to complete the Midland Main Line electrification will mean that, when commitments are finally made, the work will be considerably more expensive. This extra cost will, of course, be bourne by the taxpayer.
I worked for the company, Balfour Beatty that did the electrification from London to Bedford in the 70s. It was supposed to have continued to Leicester. So, it has taken another 50 years and it isn’t even going to reach Leicester. Extraordinary that it has taken so long.
Would it have made more sence to have rebuilt the Great Central Railway instead of spending money. OK have both
This should be a rolling programme not stop start.
If we took a strategic approach to electrification this would be a stage of the electrification of the route through to Leeds with a clear plan for the whole line.
Also why not allow the EMR Connect Class 360s to operate to Market Harborough once the electrification between Kettering and Market Harborough is completed. EMR should of inherited the Class 360/2s that would be useful for the St. Pancras-Market Harborough direct service.
Why not electrifiy from Market Harborough to East Midlands Parkway and the Bi-Mode Class 810 Auroras can switch from AC electric mode to diesel mode to continue on towards Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. Once they have been built and in service.
It needs to go alway to Leicester what good is stopping 2 miles short they is already a stabling point at Leicester this sould have bean none 20 years ago
No wonder why the fares are so expensive!
And then it will continue west to Nuneaton and Birmingham to finally allow electric freight all the way from sea port to inland port…so Leicester will still be without electric trains…
… and by 2024 it still won’t be of any use until they continue to Leicester.