Government Considering Reviving Full Electrification Of Midland Mainline

The government is reconsidering multi-million pound plans to electrify the railway from Market Harborough to Sheffield.

The scheme to install wires along the whole of the Midland Mainline to Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield was controversially scrapped in 2017 to save cash.

But the Department for Transport is now working with Network Rail in a bid to revive the £500m project.

The current project will see electrification stop at Market Harborough railway station, which once complete will enable new environmentally-friendly trains to travel south.

A Department for Transport spokesperson told Hfm: “Enabling and design work is currently taking place to progress electrification of the Midland Mainline beyond Kettering to Market Harborough, as well as to enable the introduction of the new bi-mode trains to be introduced on the route in 2023.

“Further electrification of the MML to Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield is currently being examined by the Department and Network Rail, and is at an early stage of development.

“This work will be subject to the development of a satisfactory business case.”

The decision to scrap the full electrification came after millions of pounds had already been spent re-modelling a number railway bridges in Leicestershire, to accommodate the overhead cabling required for electrification.

County councillor Kevin Feltham, who represents the Kibworth area, spoke to Hfm:

As part of preparing the business case, Network Rail is holding a market engagement day next week for companies interested in tendering for the work.

It also plans to test with contractors its delivery, commercial and procurement proposals.

The railway approaching Market Harborough