Government scraps Midland Main Line electrification

The Department for Transport has announced plans for new bi-mode trains for passengers travelling from Nottingham railway station – effectively scrapping plans to electrify the lines.

The government says passengers travelling from Nottingham will get faster and more comfortable journeys  on trains which are powered by a combination of electric and diesel.

Modern bi-mode trains will be used on Midland Main Line, with Long distance journey times from Nottingham also be reduced by up to 20 minutes in the peak.

The government says this will mean that “disruptive” electrification works will no longer be needed.

The government has also published the consultation for the next East Midlands franchise, which it says will deliver reduced journey times for intercity services and more seats for long distance passengers at peak hours, as well as dedicated services and more capacity for commuters coming into London. The franchise will maximise the benefits of the upgrade of the Midland Main Line, says the government — the biggest investment in the route since it was completed in 1870.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “We are making the biggest investment in the railways since the Victorian era and upgrading services across the country, including in Wales, the Midlands and the north.

“Passengers expect and deserve high quality rail services and we are committed to using the best available technology for each part of the network, delivering significant benefits for those who use our railways.”

The news has been greeted with anger locally.

“Once again, the East Midlands is being disadvantaged as a consequence of a London-centric focus on the rail network,” said Scott Knowles, the East Midlands Chamber’s chief executive.

He said: “Recently, we were told that some of our services to and from London will be slower in future because priority is being given to Thameslink Trains on shared routes.

“Not that long ago we were told the Midland Main Line would be electrified all the way to Sheffield. This would improve services because electric trains accelerate and brake more efficiently than heavier diesels and the enhanced operation would give scope for more services to run.

“Then electrification was paused because of the cost, then “unpaused”, but now seems to be off the table altogether beyond Kettering.

“The ‘bi-mode’ trains that the Government now appears to favour will be heavier than existing stock because they have two powertrains, accelerate more slowly and take longer to stop. They’ll also have to stop for longer at Kettering as they switch from one power source to the other, so we will have a worse service than now.

“And this announcement seems to fly in the face of the announcement earlier this week that electric HS2 trains will run on existing Midland Main Line tracks through Chesterfield and Sheffield, so that part of the track is going to have to be electrified.

“That means there will be only a 70-mile stretch between Kettering and Chesterfield that won’t be electrified, and that doesn’t make economic sense.”

Knowles added: “In the East Midlands we make more than anywhere else in the country, we have the strongest economy and lowest unemployment outside London and the South East.

“We have a very strong central location and we need and deserve the best possible connectivity, not just on north-south routes but also east-west.

“East Midlands Trains provides a quality service and will do its utmost to continue to provide the best service it can but under less than ideal circumstances when compared to the wider rail network.”