Work Starts On Rail Electricity Substation Project

Work is starting to build a new electricity substation beside the railway near Desborough.

It will go up on land adjacent to the A6, approaching the B576 junction, and provide power for when the tracks are electrified between Market Harborough and Kettering.

Contractors working on behalf of National Grid are beginning to clear vegetation to make way for the facility, which will be about the size of one and half football pitches.

Construction set to be completed by autumn 2022.

Network Rail began clearing trees and vegetation from beside parts of the track in Market Harborough and Little Bowden earlier this year, to prepare for the installation of electric cables.

Gavin Crook, Principal Programme Sponsor at Network Rail, said: ““To enable electric trains to operate up to Market Harborough we would need more power, which requires the new National Grid point.

“Items like this take a long time to deliver so we’re working with National Grid now to make sure it’s delivered in good time for any future electrification.

“We are carrying out preparation work which will enable the future electrification of the Midland Main Line between Kettering and Market Harborough.

“So far this involved fencing, vegetation management and piling work.”

Pic: Network Rail