Over the weekend between 18 and 19 May, engineers successfully demolished the Three Arches bridge near Market Harborough to allow for installation of new overhead electric wires between Kettering and Wigston.
Along this vital stretch, Story Contracting on behalf of Network Rail has carried out necessary upgrade work.
Once the electrification is complete, they will rebuild the Three Arches Bridge.
The installation of the new wires is part of a major electrification project on the Midland Main Line which connects London with Sheffield via the East Midlands. As a result, passengers will see faster, quieter, cleaner and more reliable journeys between London and the East Midlands.
Network Rail started the electrification of the route between Market Harborough and South Wigston in November 2022, after upgrading and electrifying the route between London and Corby in 2021.
Along with electrification of the route, East Midlands Railway (EMR) plans to introduce its new fleet of “Aurora” trains. These are bi-mode, being able to operate on both electric and diesel power, and are due to be in service early next year.
We would like to thank local residents for their patience and understanding while work has taken place through the area, and for the further electrification work due to take place.
James Spencer, Project Manager for Network Rail
The Class 360 could also operate as far as to Market Harborough once the electrification is completed.
Since they were introduced few years ago to be used on the Corby service that saw the Corby line electrified to Corby and the Class 360s cascaded from Greater Anglia.