North West England electrification schemes are a series of individual railway lines in North West England that have been, and continue to be electrified and upgraded. It is planned that these schemes will result in a modernised, cleaner, lower carbon and faster railway with improved capacity.

Earlier twentieth century schemes

The 1955 Modernisation plan for the railways of the United Kingdom called for the phase out of steam traction.[1] Under this plan, parts of the railways in the northwest of England were electrified.[2][3] Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly and the Styal Line were completed very early on in this plan.[4] It also included the line from Crewe to Liverpool with Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan and Preston following in the early 1970s.[5] There was a pause in electrification projects in the late 1960s when money ran out but then the West Coast Main Line north of Weaver Junction through the northwest of England to just south of Glasgow was electrified progressively between 1970 and 1974.[6] The line from Preston to Blackpool was also proposed as a logical extension for electrification in conjunction with the Weaver Junction to Glasgow scheme in a document published by the British Railways Board in April 1968.[7] No further 25 kV AC activity occurred in the northwest until after 2009. There were some 3rd rail infill schemes though. In 1956, British Rail adopted 25 kV AC OHLE as standard for most electrification projects.[8] Some exceptions for 3rd rail extensions were allowed and confirmed by the ORR decades later.[9] Parts of the northwest had already been electrified with the 3rd rail system.

In 2007 Gordon Brown became Prime Minister and selected Andrew Adonis as Secretary of State for Transport. In 2009, Adonis in a government paper, put electrification back on the agenda and proposed infill electrification schemes in the North West of England as well as other railway electrification projects elsewhere.[10][11] As of 2022, electrification in Northwest England is ongoing with civil engineering works such as bridge rebuilding taking place between Bolton and Wigan (17 total)[12] and various other work is also in progress between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge.[13][14]

21st century developments

The 2009 Adonis/DfT paper specifically stated that the work would commence immediately on the line between Liverpool and Manchester and a four-year time frame was given.[15] The first phase of the northwest project was to be between Manchester and Newton-le-Willows. This would allow diesel trains running between Glasgow and Edinburgh to Manchester Airport to be replaced by electric trains throughout via the West Coast Main Line.[16][17] Also reported in the paper was that the lines between Manchester and Preston and Liverpool and Preston were to be electrified.[18] Work was announced as having started in the Manchester area in March 2011.[19]

2012 Department for Transport plans for UK rail electrification by 2019 including Northern Hub (red in the north)

In July 2012 the coalition government announced new electrification schemes, all at 25 kV AC and reconfirmed schemes previously announced by Adonis.[20] These were: Electrification of the 'North West Triangle' (Manchester – Liverpool via Chat Moss, Huyton - Wigan, Manchester - Euxton Junction and Blackpool North – Preston); and part of the Northern Hub (New Ordsall Chord).[21][22] The North West triangle project called for a major civil engineering project to rebore the Farnworth tunnel on the Manchester–Preston line in advance of electrification.

In August 2013, the Department for Transport announced that the Windermere branch line between Oxenholme and Windermere was to be electrified by 2016.[23] However, the Hendy review[24] moved the completion of GRIP 3 to March 2017 with a yet to be determined date for completion of electrification.[25] In December 2013 it was announced that the line from Bolton to Wigan North Western would also be electrified by 2017.[26] However, the enhancements delivery plan update of September 2016 moved the completion date with only GRIP Stage 3 (Option selection) being completed by then.[27] On 1 September 2021, the Department for Transport formally announced this would now go ahead.[28]

Newly installed overhead electrification into Manchester Victoria station, in October 2015

In July 2017, Chris Grayling, the secretary of state for transport announced a number of electrification schemes were to be cancelled including the Lakes Line from Oxenholme to Windermere.[29]

In February 2019 the final electric test train ran on the Preston to Manchester line in readiness for squadron electric service.[30] In March 2019 the Railway Industry Association published a paper on Electrification cost challenge suggesting ways forward and a rolling program of electrification.[31] In April 2019 the power was switched on from Manchester Victoria to Miles Platting.[32] This section of line is now part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade though. Most of the schemes first planned in the 2010 timeframe are now complete.[33]

From December 2021 onwards, Wigan to Bolton electrification and associated works is in progress.[34] This will include Crow Nest Junction. This electrification scheme is claimed to also improve logistics and not have diesel trains running under the wires.[35] The National Electrification Efficiency Panel (NEEP) is involved in this scheme. This panel was commissioned by the Department for Transport at the end of 2021. and chaired by Professor Andrew McNaughton. It is claimed the civil engineering costs have already been halved.[36] As part of this schemes various bridges need to be completely demolished and rebuilt.[37][38][39] In August 2023 the principal contractor started liquidation proceedings and work on the scheme was halted.[40] The scheme is due for completion in 2025.[41]

Future proposals

In September 2020 the TDNS Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy Interim Business case was published but dated July 31, 2020. The principal recommendation was further electrification of 13,000 km (single track kilometres) of UK railways. This document proposed a number of lines in the northwest for further electrification.[42] Page 213 had a list of suggestions including Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington and Chester to Warrington - often called the Cheshire Lines Committee railway lines. No attempt was made to prioritise the schemes in this publication.

As part of the Transport for Greater Manchester's Delivery Plan, proposals have been put forward to electrify the line between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale via Mills Hill. This is part of the 2040 Strategy, and they aim to complete business cases for the early delivery of it with potential delivery in 2026, subject to funding.[43]

Integration with other schemes

The Northern Hub and the Great North Rail Project are railway schemes across Northern England that include electrifying lines in the northwest.[44][45] The original aim was to have series of upgrades that would reduce bottlenecks in the Manchester area.[46][47] The scheme also involved building and electrifying the Ordsall Chord to connect Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly stations.

Schematic map showing rail improvements around Manchester city centre for the Northern Hub project
Northern Powerhouse Rail map

The Manchester to Stalybridge scheme was originally part of Northwest England Electrification schemes but became part of Transpennine Route Upgrade.[48][49][50]

On 18 November 2021 the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (IRP) was published.[51] This government document states HS2 will be built from Crewe to Manchester.[52] and reduces HS2 to a high speed link from London via Birmingham to the north west of England just south of Wigan North Western railway station.[53] It is planned for Warrington to have a high speed link to a reopened Warrington Bank Quay low-level station. The HS2 track from the east will merge onto regular but upgraded track leaving the west side towards Liverpool.[54]

Northern Powerhouse Rail is also included in the plan.[55] It involves building less high-speed rail than previously proposed.[56] A link is introduced from HS2 to Liverpool via a section of new high speed line from reinstated low-level platforms at Warrington Bank Quay and onwards via upgraded sections to join the existing line to Liverpool Lime Street.[57][58]

Summary of individual schemes

  • Manchester to Newton-le-Willows - completed.[59]
  • Newton-le-Willows to Liverpool -completed.[60]
  • Liverpool-Wigan line -completed.[61][62][63][64]
  • Manchester-Preston-completed.[65][66]
  • Preston-Blackpool North-completed.[67][68]
  • Salford Crescent to Manchester Victoria-completed.[25]
  • Oxenholme to Windermere - cancelled.[29]
  • Lostock Junction (Bolton area) to Wigan - in progress as of December 2021.[69]
    Lostock Junction to Wigan electrification worksite mobilisation December 2021
  • Manchester Victoria to Rochdale - proposed.[70]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Electrification 1955" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Correspondent, our Industrial (8 May 2014). "A mile a day towards rail electrification: from the archive, 8 May 1957". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  3. ↑ Godward, E.; Edwards, P. (2001). "Rail developments in the North West". Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Transport. 147 (3): 191–199. doi:10.1680/tran.2001.147.3.191. ISSN 0965-092X.
  4. ↑ Nock, O.S. (1965). Britain's new railway: Electrification of the London-Midland main lines from Euston to Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Liverpool and Manchester. London: Ian Allan. OCLC 59003738.
  5. ↑ Nock, O.S. (1974). Electric Euston to Glasgow. Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0711005303.
  6. ↑ "Electric all the way" (PDF). Railways archive. May 1974. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  7. ↑ British Railways Board (April 1968). "Route Improvements Electrification : Weaver Junction to Glasgow" (PDF). Railways Archive.
  8. ↑ "Modernisation of British Railways: The System of Electrification for British Railways" (PDF). London: British Transport Commission. 1956. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ↑ "ORR's Policy on Third Rail DC Electrification Systems | Office of Rail and Road". www.orr.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  10. ↑ Adonis, Andrew (July 2009). "Britain's Transport Infrastructure Rail Electrification" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "Railway lines to be electrified". 14 December 2009. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "Powering ahead: bridge upgrade for Wigan to Bolton electrification". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "first steelwork Victoria -Stalybridge on W1 Electrification". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "North West route". Network Rail. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  15. ↑ Adonis 2009, p. 4
  16. ↑ Adonis 2009, p. 23
  17. ↑ "Northwest Sparks - Projects". www.nw-sparks.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  18. ↑ Adonis 2009, p. 5
  19. ↑ Abbott, James, ed. (March 2011). "Lancashire electrification work begins". Modern Railways. 68 (751): 16. ISSN 0026-8356 – via Ian Allan Publishing.
  20. ↑ "High Level Output Specification (HLOS) CP5" (PDF). UK Government. July 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  21. ↑ "Rail Electrification briefing paper" (PDF). UK Government. 27 July 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  22. ↑ "Electrification in the North - Network Rail". 27 March 2013. Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  23. ↑ "DfT Unveils Lakes Electrification Plans" Archived 27 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine Railnews news article 09-08-2013; Retrieved 2014-03-13
  24. ↑ Hendy, Peter (November 2015). "Report from Sir Peter Hendy to the Secretary of State for Transport on the replanning of Network Rail's Investment Programme" (PDF). Network Rail. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  25. 1 2 Miles, Tony (September 2013). Abbott (ed.). "North West Wiring". Modern Railways. Vol. 70, no. 780. Key Publishing. pp. 52–59.
  26. ↑ "New boost for railway electrification schemes". RailNews. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  27. ↑ "Archived copy Enhancements Delivery Plan September 2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  28. ↑ "Green light given for Wigan to Bolton electrification". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  29. 1 2 "Rail electrification plans scrapped". BBC News. 20 July 2017. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  30. ↑ "Final 100mph speed checks on newly electrified Manchester to Preston railway". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  31. ↑ "Electrification Cost Challenge Report". www.riagb.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  32. ↑ "'Stay off the railway' warning as electrified lines switched on in Manchester". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  33. ↑ "Northwest Sparks". www.nw-sparks.co.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  34. ↑ ""Absolutely horrendous" rail works keep residents up all night". The Bolton News. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  35. ↑ "Rail Technology Magazine February / March 2022 Page 26". mag.railtechnologymagazine.com. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  36. ↑ Ford, Roger (April 2022). "Informed Sources: WIGAN-BOLTON NEEP goes in hard". Modern Railways. Vol. 79, no. 883. Key Publishing. pp. 26–27.
  37. ↑ "Golf club access bridge set to be demolished and replaced as part of £78m rail electrification". The Bolton News. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  38. ↑ Gee, Chris (29 September 2022). "Golf club access bridge set to be replaced as part of £78m rail electrification". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  39. ↑ Lythgoe, George (18 November 2022). "Historic bridge to be demolished and replaced in £78 million scheme". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  40. ↑ "Bolton to Wigan railway electrification work on pause after contractor stops trading". The Bolton News. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  41. ↑ Sherratt, ed. (October 2023). "Manchester service uplift targeted for 2026". Modern Railways. Vol. 80, no. 901. Key Publishing. p. 11.
  42. ↑ "Network Rail TDNS Interim Business Case" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  43. ↑ "Greater Manchester Our 5 year Delivery Plan 2021-2026" (PDF). January 2021.
  44. ↑ "Highlights of the Great North Rail Project". Network Rail. 21 September 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  45. ↑ "Northern Hub". Northern Hub. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  46. ↑ "Northern Hub Technical Study" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  47. ↑ "The Northern Way - Manchester Hub Phase 1" (PDF). Northern Way. April 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  48. ↑ "Network Rail – Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge Railway Improvements". manchestertostalybridge.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  49. ↑ "Manchester to Stalybridge". Network Rail. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  50. ↑ "Rebuilt bridge reopens as electrification of the railway in the north west progresses". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  51. ↑ Department for Transport (18 November 2021). Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (PDF). ISBN 978-1-5286-2947-8 – via UK Government.
  52. ↑ Department for Transport 2021, pp. 12, 13.
  53. ↑ Harris, Nigel (December 2021). "IRP snuffs out 'levelling up'". RAIL Magazine. 945: 3 – via Bauer Media.
  54. ↑ Department for Transport 2021, p. 13.
  55. ↑ "Northern Powerhouse Rail" (PDF). Parliament UK. 25 August 2022.
  56. ↑ Topham, Gwyn (18 November 2021). "Boris Johnson's rail plan: what's in it and what was promised". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  57. ↑ Department for Transport 2021, p. 10.
  58. ↑ "UK unveils new Integrated Rail Plan for Midlands and the North". www.railway-technology.com. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  59. ↑ "Rail Electrification briefing paper" (PDF). UK Government. 27 July 2017. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  60. ↑ Lomas, Hannah (7 June 2016). "Electrification. North of England programme" (PDF). Travelwatch-northwest. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  61. ↑ "Northern to sever Liverpool-Blackpool link". www.railmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  62. ↑ "QXX 975091 - OHLM Test coach (formerly Test Car 3 "Mentor")". Departmentals.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  63. ↑ "3528l St Helens Central". Flickr. 17 March 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  64. ↑ "3532g Eccleston Park". Flickr. 20 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  65. ↑ "VIDEO: Watch first successful electric train tests through Bolton". The Bolton News. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  66. ↑ "Next three Saturdays: buses replace trains between Wigan and Manchester as engineers upgrade the railway". Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  67. ↑ "Blackpool rail route reopens but electrification work hits problems". www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  68. ↑ "First pendolino train due to set off from Blackpool today". Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  69. ↑ "Green light given for Wigan to Bolton electrification | Mirage News". www.miragenews.com. 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  70. ↑ "Our Five Year Transport Delivery Plan | Transport for Greater Manchester".

Further reading

  • Keenor, Garry. Overhead Line Electrification for Railways 6th edition.
  • "Network Rail A Guide to Overhead Electrification Revision 10" (PDF). Network Rail. February 2015.
  • "On board with electrification". Permanent Way Institution Journal. 139 (1). January 2021. ISSN 2057-2425 – via PWI.
  • Boocock, Colin (1991). East Coast Electrification. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1979-7.
  • Nock, O.S. (1965). Britain's new railway: Electrification of the London-Midland main lines from Euston to Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Liverpool and Manchester. London: Ian Allan. OCLC 59003738.
  • Nock, O.S. (1974). Electric Euston to Glasgow. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0530-3.
  • Proceedings of the British Railways Electrification Conference, London 1960 - Railway Electrification at Industrial Frequency. London: British Railways Board. 1960.
  • Holt, Geoffrey O.; Biddle, Gordon (1986). The North West. A Regional history of the railways of Great Britain. Vol. 10 (2nd ed.). David St. John Thomas. ISBN 978-0-946537-34-1.
  • Dyckhoff, Nigel (1999). Portrait of the Cheshire Lines Committee. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0711025215.
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