Upgrading The Midland Main Line A Remarkable Success Story Britain’s railway is a remarkable success story. It is the fastest growing, the safest and one of the most reliable railways in Europe. However, passenger numbers have doubled since Between now and 2023 the MML will be 1996 and demand is accelerating. Rail freight is electrified, have track and signals modernised, also booming, showing a 70 per cent increase station platforms lengthened, bridges and since the mid-1990s. tunnels remodelled and see new trains with more seating introduced. Building new rail links, increasing capacity as well as line speed and modernising our infrastructure This will deliver capacity and journey time is therefore essential to allow trains to run faster, improvements for passengers whilst creating a more frequently and more reliably on our network. more flexible path for freight traffic and overall a more efficient Midland Main Line. The Midland Main Line (MML) Upgrade Programme re-energises one of Britain’s oldest railways through the biggest programme of improvements to the MML since it was completed in 1870. 2 Who we are Network Rail runs, maintains and develops Britain’s rail tracks, signalling, bridges, tunnels, level crossings and key stations. Including: miles of track train stations (most of which are leased to train operators) bridges and tunnels commercial properties A £40 billion investment programme is currently underway across the UK to deliver modern, efficient rail infrastructure – the largest rail investment and modernisation programme since Victorian times. Two-thirds of this will be invested in renewing and upgrading the railway and will be spent by March 2019. Key facts: • 1 September 2014 – Network Rail was • Network Rail does not operate passenger reclassified as a public sector company, trains. Train Operating Companies such as and became accountable to Parliament East Midlands Trains and Thameslink are among the 23 companies that do • Passenger numbers are forecast to grow 100% by 2041 and freight by 90% over • Network Rail does not set fares: a similar period • There are two types of fares: 1) those regulated by government • The rail industry has three main sources 2) unregulated fares set by Train Operating of funding: Companies • Passengers • Money from fares goes towards running and • Government bodies maintaining the railway – improving journeys, • Rents and track access charges creating jobs and helping to boost the • Over 35,500 staff are employed by economy Network Rail – three-quarters in operating and maintaining the railway 3 The Midland Main Line The Midland Main Line (MML) runs from London St Pancras to Sheffield - serving Luton, Bedford, Kettering, Corby, Leicester, East Midlands Parkway, Derby, Nottingham and Chesterfield. The Midland Main Line serves a diverse set of markets ranging from long distance and commuter travel to leisure passengers visiting Derby, Leicester and Nottingham, as well as London. Comprising: Sheeld Dronfield M1 Chesterfield miles of track tunnels stations Belper M1 (639 km) (between London Long Nottingham St Pancras and Sheffield) Derby Eaton Beeston East Midlands Parkway A1 Loughborough Melton Mowbray Oakham M6 Leicester Toll M69 Corby Market A1(M) Harborough M6 Kettering M1 A14 Wellingborough million increase in rise in the passengers 15 years next 10 Bedford years M40 A1(M) M11 Luton Luton Airport Parkway KEY High-speed services from London St Pancras Limited service M25 Major road London St Pancras The line was built in stages between 1837 and 1870 and became one of England’s first main railway lines. It is the last UK north-south main line to be electrified. Between Derby and Chesterfield are a series of historic structures built for George and Robert Stephenson’s North Midland Railway – classed by Historic England as being of national significance. 4 The Benefits of Electrification Electrification of the Midland Main Line (MML) north of Bedford to Kettering and Corby is scheduled to be completed by 2019; and the line north of Kettering to Leicester, Derby/Nottingham and Sheffield by 2023. Enabling electric trains to operate on the MML will mean: More seats Less track Faster trains maintenance Sheffield Chesterfield Enabling electric trains to operate on the full length of the MML (the section between London St Pancras and Bedford Nottingham was electrified in the 1980’s) will deliver numerous benefits. Trent South This will improve journey times and make services more Phase 2: comfortable and smoother for passengers, as well as cleaner 2023 completion and quieter for people living near the railway. Leicester • More capacity… for passenger and freight traffic will make our railway fit for the future and keep pace with growing demand Corby • Improved reliability… and performance as we modernise Kettering the route using state-of-the-art technology Phase 1: • Longer, faster and quieter trains… and improved 2019 completion journey times Bedford • More environmentally friendly… as greener trains enable our carbon footprint to be reduced by up to 11,000 tonnes – equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from 1,828 passenger vehicles Borehamwood • Stimulating and supporting economic growth… as we connect the region’s biggest economies Electrification is a vital aspect of Network Rail’s strategy to provide a safe, reliable and efficient railway, fit for the 21st century and beyond. London St Pancras 5 Preparing for Electrification In order to deliver the Midland Main Line upgrade programme a significant construction programme is required. To prepare for electrification, Network Rail may need to make the following changes: As we enhance our infrastructure we also work to minimise our impact on the natural environment. Before any work begins we carry out Strengthen Upgrade Carry out Assess ecological surveys and environmental railway bridges and enhancement footpaths/level impact assessments, where required, tunnels works to bridge embankments crossings and parapets remodel to identify any protected species or nesting birds and relocate them where necessary. Clear lineside Undertake piling Install Overhead vegetation work to install the Line Equipment foundations for structures that will carry overhead lines 6 Overhead Line Equipment The Midland Main Line (MML) will be electrified using a 25kV Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) design. This refers to the wires and supporting posts that distribute electricity at 25,000 volts to power trains. Generally, most types of railway Overhead Line Equipment have overhead conductors with a copper contact wire suspended from a catenary wire by ‘droppers’. The Overhead Line Equipment conductors are suspended from trackside steel masts mounted upon concrete or steel piled foundations which are spaced approximately 40m – 70m along the track (depending upon local terrain). The ‘live’ parts of the equipment are insulated from the steel structures by polymeric insulators. Electricity to power the MML will be drawn from the National Grid high voltage transmission network via four grid access points called ‘feeder stations’ and distributed along its length through 24 substations. We will aim to place new equipment where it will cause the least visual impact. However, this infrastructure will change the appearance of the railway and the surrounding area. 639 single track 12,500 OLE 4 National Grid 24 substations/ kilometres to be masts to be erected supply points distribution points electrified 7 Clearing Vegetation Before electrification, Network Rail will clear lineside vegetation along the route. This is to prevent interference with Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) and reduce the risk of short circuits to parts of the electrified system. Mature vegetation will usually be cleared to a distance of six metres from the railway – whilst a proportion of vegetation will be preserved for its ecological benefits. Unmanaged, overgrown trees and plants can cause serious safety problems as well as train performance issues, such as: Covering up signals or falling onto Stopping our workers finding a safe refuge tracks and overhead power lines when trains are passing and hampering their 1 2 ability to see trains approaching Reducing visibility at level and Autumn leaves falling onto tracks (crushed footpath crossings at 20 tons per square inch form a hard, 3 4 Teflon-like coating) reduce trains’ ability to grip and affect acceleration/braking – leading to delays 8 Minimising the impact of infrastructure Network Rail respects the environment and aims to minimise impact on it. The landscape is taken into account and, where practicable, structures such as substations are sited in less visibly intrusive locations, such as railway cuttings. If we renew fencing we use fencing that is appropriate to the area: Residential – holly green powder Industrial – existing chain link Rural – robust 7-strand wooden post coated palisade fencing (or in some fencing will not be replaced. New and wire with stock netting cases paladin fencing) fencing will be galvanised palisade The Midland Main Line is rich in heritage For example Ambergate Viaduct in Derbyshire and Network Rail has worked with specialist has now been listed as grade 2* indicating its consultants to make sure sensitive historic significance in historic and architectural terms. structures are safeguarded. We work closely with local authorities when Over 1,500 structures have been assessed, designing new infrastructure in areas of resulting in over 40 structures being listed, architectural or cultural significance. upgraded or amended by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport as a result of Historic England’s advice. 9 Working for You Network Rail brings the country together. We own, operate, maintain and invest in Britain’s rail network. Increasingly, we are delivering improved standards of safety, reliability and efficiency – which benefits everyone. Alongside our partners we try to make sure our Network Rail aims to complete work on time with sites are managed responsibly and to minimise minimal disruption and to keep people informed the impact of works on people living close to the of our work. railway. We minimise noise and brief teams on working responsibly in the local community.