The Midland Main Line (MML), a major railway line in the United Kingdom, has been undergoing various upgrades since 2015.[1] The current programme of upgrades began in 2012, although electrification was proposed a number of times previously.[2] The current programme includes electrification of the railway line between Bedford, Wellingborough, Corby, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield. The routes between Nottingham and Sheffield and the Erewash Valley line were not included at this time, only the line between Derby and Sheffield. The upgrade was part of the HLOS (High Level Output Specification) for Control Period 5 published by the UK Government in 2012.[3]
To enable all the benefits of using electric traction, the line from Bedford to St Pancras is also being upgraded which includes boosting the power supply.[4][5] Parts of the line have been classed as congested infrastructure hence another reason for the upgrade.[6]
The upgrading of the overhead line equipment (OLE) south of Bedford is underway to allow 125 mph (201 km/h) running and due for completion in late 2025.[5] The Kettering to South Wigston stretch was energised in July 2024.
- ^ "Midland Main Line Upgrade". Network Rail. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "Review of Mainline Electrification" (PDF). Railway Archives. 1981. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "HLOS CP5" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ Sherratt, ed. (June 2023). "125mph upgrade for MML OLE south of Bedford". Modern Railways. Vol. 80, no. 897. Key Publishing. pp. 22–23. ISSN 0026-8356.
- ^ a b "South of Bedford Upgrade". Network Rail. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Midland Main Line Congested Infrastructure Capacity Enhancements plan" (PDF). Network Rail. 11 September 2015.