The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that “paused” electrification projects on the Midland Main Line and TransPennine routes will resume following a review from Network Rail’s new chairman, Sir Peter Hendy.
Hendy said the pause had given Network Rail time to develop an improved strategy, albeit with delays to the original programme.
The electrification of the Midland Main Line from Bedford to Kettering and Corby is now expected to be completed by 2019 and from Kettering to Derby and Sheffield by 2023 – two and three years later than originally planned.
The TransPennine route from Liverpool to Newcastle, via Manchester, Leeds and York, has been pushed back from December 2018 to 2022.
The DfT announcement said the review had improved on existing plans to electrify the TransPennine line between Stalybridge and Leeds, which had proposed changing the power supply of the trains.
Chairman of Network Rail Sir Peter Hendy said: “The temporary pause in the programme has given us the space to develop a better plan for passengers. People can expect more services and faster journeys.
“We face some difficult challenges, and there is more work still to do, but the Secretary of State’s decision means we can now move forward with our plans to electrify TransPennine and Midland Main Line.”
Good news but what about the replacement contractor to finish the North West electrification? If there is no announcement soon, the completion date for Preston – Blackpool and Manchester- Euxton Junction is unlikely to be much before 2020.
I don’t think they will do much more electrification as such. The range and speed of the Aventra IPEMU will do most of the lines with minimal changes to platforms, track and signalling.
I posted it on my blog. The key is that Leeds to Manchester is just 43 miles
http://anonw.com/2015/09/30/is-northern-electrification-going-to-use-battery-trains/
All the electrification will be done out of the elements in a nice warm factory in Derby.
I may be wrong, but it’s the only way to meet their published schedule. This way there is not as many things that can go wrong!
So deciding to not do any work on the Transpennine electrification for over 2 years is “a better plan for passengers” ?