In todays announcement of the HLOS and electrification details is mention of the "Electric Spine" incorporating the MML electricification to Sheffield and electrification from Southampton to Nuneaton.
There is a map here published by the Dft showing this electrification with the other schemes annouced today.
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/hlos-2012/map-hlos-electrification.pdf
Full press release here
http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20120716a
This raises a few questions from my first glance:
1. The East West link from Oxford to Bedford will be going from nothing to fully electrified by 2019. That will be some feat for what is currently a non-existent route!
2. I hope the line will be redoubled between Coventry and Leamington Spa otherwise there will be a large bottleneck in the route.
3. I also hope the already announced Nuneaton -Coventry upgrade will take account of this electrification. I seem to recall the platforms were being planned for 3 car trains, but 4 car trains would be better surely?
4. A large missing link would appear to be Birmingham - Leicester & Derby. This would allow much more use to be made of this link. I'm thinking XC services which could run Glasgow - Edinburgh - Southampton on the juice except for a missing 41 mile section in the middle! Of course they could run via Leicester, Bedford & Oxford.Edit: I've just realised there will be a missing link from Sheffield to Leeds & Doncaster.
Thats my initial thoughts, I'm sure there are plenty more.
There is a map here published by the Dft showing this electrification with the other schemes annouced today.
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/hlos-2012/map-hlos-electrification.pdf
Full press release here
http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20120716a
This raises a few questions from my first glance:
1. The East West link from Oxford to Bedford will be going from nothing to fully electrified by 2019. That will be some feat for what is currently a non-existent route!
2. I hope the line will be redoubled between Coventry and Leamington Spa otherwise there will be a large bottleneck in the route.
3. I also hope the already announced Nuneaton -Coventry upgrade will take account of this electrification. I seem to recall the platforms were being planned for 3 car trains, but 4 car trains would be better surely?
4. A large missing link would appear to be Birmingham - Leicester & Derby. This would allow much more use to be made of this link. I'm thinking XC services which could run Glasgow - Edinburgh - Southampton on the juice except for a missing 41 mile section in the middle! Of course they could run via Leicester, Bedford & Oxford.Edit: I've just realised there will be a missing link from Sheffield to Leeds & Doncaster.
Thats my initial thoughts, I'm sure there are plenty more.
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