by george matthews
It has long been noted that of the three lines from London to the north the former Midland railway is the one that would gain from electrification but whenever proposals for electrification have been in the air it has been omitted from plans.
Now, there has been surprise news that it may be up for electrifying soon.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18839483
The Thameslink route is electrified from St Pancras to Bedford. The proposal now is to extend the wires to Sheffield via Nottingham and Leicester. (Would they be linked to Manchester and York? Perhaps only in a later phase.)
The routes now beginning are: Great Western to Cardiff (but not to Swansea). Several important routes in the Manchester-Liverpool area.
The Scottish government is electrifying two routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow, including the busiest diesel route in the country - possibly the world. They still are not planning the route to Aberdeen.
Now, there has been surprise news that it may be up for electrifying soon.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18839483
The Thameslink route is electrified from St Pancras to Bedford. The proposal now is to extend the wires to Sheffield via Nottingham and Leicester. (Would they be linked to Manchester and York? Perhaps only in a later phase.)
A £500m scheme to electrify the Midland Mainline rail route is expected to be announced by the government.This government has been doing some surprising electrification of routes long thought to be needing it. What's going on?
Transport Secretary Justine Greening is set to outline plans to complete the electrification of the route between Sheffield and London on Monday.
At present the line is electrified only between St Pancras station and Bedford.
The new decision, if confirmed, would mean extending overhead wires to Sheffield via the east Midlands.
However, it is not yet known if track improvements will also be announced, especially at Derby and Leicester stations.
The routes now beginning are: Great Western to Cardiff (but not to Swansea). Several important routes in the Manchester-Liverpool area.
The Scottish government is electrifying two routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow, including the busiest diesel route in the country - possibly the world. They still are not planning the route to Aberdeen.