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Railway electrification in Great Britain began in the late 19th century. A range of voltages has been used, employing both overhead lines and conductor rails. The two most common systems are 25 kV AC using overhead lines, and the 750 V DC third rail system used in Southeast England and on Merseyrail. As of October 2023, 6,065 kilometres (3,769 mi) (38%) of the British rail network was electrified.

According to Network Rail, as at 2003, 64% of the electrified network used the 25 kV AC overhead system, and 36% used the 660/750 V DC third-rail system.

The electrified network is set to expand over the coming years, as 25 kV electrification is extended to currently unelectrified lines such as the Midland Main Line, as well as lines in the North of England as part of the Northern Hub.

History

Early electrification

The first electric railway in Great Britain was Volk's Electric Railway in Brighton, a pleasure railway, which opened in 1883, still functioning to this day. The London Underground began operating electric services using a fourth rail system in 1890 on the City and South London Railway, now part of the London Underground Northern line. The Liverpool Overhead Railway followed in 1893, being designed from the outset to be electric traction, unlike the City and South London Railway which was designed to be cable hauled initially.

Main line electrification of some suburban lines began in the early years of the 20th century, using a variety of different systems. The Mersey Railway converted to 600 V DC electric multiple-unit operation on 3 May 1903, thus eliminating the problems caused by steam traction in the long tunnel under the River Mersey, and the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway's Liverpool Exchange to Southport (and on to Crossens) suburban commuter line was similarly electrified at 625 V by March 1904. Both of these lines initially used a fourth rail system.

In 1921, a government committee chose 1,500 V DC overhead to be the national standard, but little implementation followed and many different systems co-existed. During the interwar period, the Southern Railway adopted the 660 V DC third rail system as its standard and greatly expanded this system across its network of lines South of London.

Post-war

After World War II and the nationalisation of the railways in 1948, British Railways (BR) expanded electrification at both 1,500 V DC overhead and 660/750 V third rail. In 1956, BR adopted 25 kV AC overhead as standard for all projects outside logical extensions of third-rail systems.

Twenty-first century

The 25 kV AC network has continued to expand slowly, and large areas of the country outside London are not electrified. In 2007, the government's preferred option was to use diesel trains running on biodiesel, its White Paper Delivering a Sustainable Railway, ruling out large-scale railway electrification for the following five years.

In May 2009, Network Rail launched a consultation on large-scale electrification, potentially to include the Great Western Main Line and Midland Main Line and smaller "in-fill" schemes. Key benefits cited were that electric trains are faster, more reliable and cause less track wear than diesel trains. On 5 June 2009, Lord Adonis was appointed Secretary of State for Transport, and announced the plans to electrify the Great Western Main Line from London as far as Swansea, as well as infill electrification schemes in the North West of England.

In Scotland, where transport is devolved to the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland has extended and continues to expand electrification, for example, on the Airdrie–Bathgate rail link. This is part of a larger plan that has seen many major routes in central Scotland electrified, including the main Edinburgh Waverley–Glasgow Queen Street route. They have pursued electrification with multiple schemes in the Central Belt. All these have been 25 kV AC, as in England and Wales.

In July 2012 the UK government announced £4.2 billion of new electrification schemes, all at 25 kV AC and reconfirmed schemes previously announced by Adonis. These were to be Northern Hub, Great Western Main Line, South Wales Main Line, Midland Main Line, Electric Spine, Crossrail, Gospel Oak to Barking line and West Midlands suburban lines including the Cross-City Line.

On 25 June 2015, the government announced that some of the electrification projects would be delayed or cut back because of rising costs. Electrification work was to be "paused" on the Trans-Pennine route between York and Manchester and on the Midland main line between Bedford and Sheffield. Electrification of the Great Western main line would go ahead but the status of the Reading–Newbury and Didcot–Oxford sections was unclear.

However, in September 2015, the electrification work was "un-paused", but with a delayed completion date. Since then there have been regular updates including one published in October 2016.

On 20 July 2017, Chris Grayling the Secretary of State for Transport cancelled a number of electrification projects citing disruptive works and use of bi-mode technology as an alternative.

Electrification has not been without controversy with cancellations and various appearances of the Secretary of State for Transport called before the Transport Select Committee. The Transport Select Committee published its report into various matters including regional investment disparity on the railways and calling again for the reinstatement of various cancelled electrification schemes.

A written question was submitted and answered in parliament regarding route miles electrified in the years 1997–2019.

In March 2019, the Railway Industry Association published a paper on Electrification cost challenge suggesting ways forward and a rolling program of electrification.

Future of third rail

In June 2011 Peter Dearman of Network Rail suggested that the third-rail network will need to be converted into overhead lines. He stated: "Although the top speed is 100 mph (160 km/h), the trains cannot go over 80 mph (130 km/h) well and 25% of power is lost from heat." Agreeing that conversion would be expensive, he said that the third rail network is at the limit of its power capability, especially as trains become more advanced in technology. The July 2012 Department for Transport High Level Output Specification for Network Rail Control Period 5 includes the conversion of the South West Main Line between Southampton Central and Basingstoke from 750 V DC third rail to 25 kV AC overhead as part of a scheme to improve rail freight capacity from Southampton Port. This conversion would be a pilot scheme to develop a business case for full conversion of the third-rail network. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has also stated that, on safety grounds, third-rail 750 V DC has a limited future.

Existing systems – overhead line (OHL)

National Rail: 25 kV, 50 Hz AC overhead

British Railways chose this as the national standard for future electrification projects outside of the third rail area in 1956. Following this, a number of lines that were originally electrified at a different voltage were converted, and a number of lines have been newly electrified with this system. Work started in the late 1950s. The first major electrification project using 25 kV was the West Coast Main Line (1959–1974). Initially this was Crewe, Manchester and Liverpool south into London and Birmingham. Weaver Junction north to Glasgow followed later. The 25 kV network has been gradually expanded ever since:

Existing

Great Western Main Line

• Electrified from London Paddington via Reading, Swindon and Bristol Parkway to Cardiff Central.
• Electrified from Reading to Newbury.
• Electrified from London Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 4 in 1994 in a joint venture between British Rail and the British Airports Authority using the Mark 3B series.

West Coast Main Line

• Electrified from London Euston during the late 1950s and mid-1960s using the Mark 1 series under the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan to Crewe, extended to Glasgow Central in 1974 using the Mark 3A range.
• Northampton: see Northampton loop.
• Birmingham New Street: see Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford line.
• Crewe to Liverpool Lime Street.
• Stafford to Manchester Piccadilly: see Stafford–Manchester line and Crewe–Manchester line.
• The "Abbey Flyer" (Abbey Line) was electrified in 1987–88 by Network SouthEast.
• Edinburgh Waverley in 1989 (from Carstairs Junction in conjunction with East Coast Main Line electrification)
• In 2003, the Crewe–Kidsgrove section of the Crewe–Derby line was electrified as a diversionary route for the WCML.
• Since 1999, the line has been modernised and the overhead line equipment has been refurbished and renewed from Mark 1 / Mark 3A to UK1 range to allow an increase line speeds from 110 mph to 125 mph (with 140 mph capability in areas previously fitted with Automatically Tensioned Mark 1 equipment - subject to upgrading of the balance weight arrangement to provide individually tensioned contact / catenary wires and regrading of the contact wires). At the same time sections of the line are being progressively changed to autotransformer system.

Midland Main Line

• Electrified between London St Pancras and Bedford in 1983 using the Mark 3B range, and Dock Junction to Moorgate - now cut back to City Thameslink.
• Electrification from Bedford to Kettering and Corby using the UK Master Series (MS125) range (MML Phase 1), further extensions to Leicester, Nottingham Trent Junction and Sheffield (via Derby) by 2023 (MML Phase 2) were cancelled in July 2017. In November 2021, the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) was published. This included full Midland Main Line electrification. On 21 December 2021 it was announced that work would start immediately on electrification of the section between Kettering and Market Harborough. Grant Shapps claimed this work was proof the IRP was being implemented quickly but was met with ridicule. Currently, electrification has been completed up to Wigston and Corby, despite the previous cancellation of these plans.

High Speed 1

• Newest main line, completed in 2007. Links London St Pancras with Ashford International and the Channel Tunnel.

East Coast Main Line

• Electrified in two parts: 1975–78, and 1984–91
• The line between London King's Cross and Royston was electrified between 1976 and 1978 using the Mark 3A range as part of the Great Northern Suburban Electrification Project. This included the Hertford loop line. The section between Royston and Cambridge was electrified in 1988 using the Mark 3B range.
• In 1984, authority was given to electrify to Edinburgh and Leeds. The section between Hitchin and Peterborough was completed in 1987, and Doncaster and York were reached in 1989. By 1990, electrification had reached Newcastle, and in 1991 Edinburgh Waverley. The Mark 3B range was used throughout the electrification scheme, certain areas are presently being upgraded to the Mark 3D design range, this will eliminate known corrosion issues with the AWAC catenary and replace solid stainless steel droppers with flexible copper current carrying designs. Some headspan to portal conversions are also taking place.
• In order to keep construction teams working, two additional schemes were authorised, to Carstairs and North Berwick (North Berwick Line).
• At the peak of the electrification project during the late 1980s, it was claimed to be the "longest construction site in the world" at over 250 miles (400 km).

West Anglia / Fen Line

This covers the lines from London Liverpool Street (Bethnal Green Junction) to Chingford, Enfield Town, Hertford East and Cambridge. In the 1960s, the lines to Chingford, Enfield Town and Cheshunt were electrified at 6.25 kV, from Cheshunt to Bishop's Stortford and Hertford East at 25 kV. The Lea Valley line between Coppermill Junction and Cheshunt was electrified at 25 kV in 1969. All the 6.25 kV areas were converted to 25 kV in 1983. In 1987, electrification was extended from Bishop's Stortford to Cambridge at 25 kV. In 1990 the line to Stansted Airport opened, and in 1992 electrification was extended from Cambridge to King's Lynn along the Fen Line.

Great Eastern Main Line

• London Liverpool Street to Norwich.
• Converted from 1,500 V DC (see 1,500 V DC section "Shenfield Metro")

Converted from 6.25 kV/1,500 V DC to a combination of AT and FT 25 kV Mark GE (Great Eastern) between 1976 and 1980. Presently being upgraded to the GEFF (Great Eastern Furrer + Frey) range altering the catenary from a compound to simple sagged arrangement.

• Romford–Upminster line
• Shenfield–Southend line
• Crouch Valley line
• Braintree branch line
• Mayflower line
• Sunshine Coast Line

London, Tilbury and Southend line

London Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness. The majority was originally electrified at 6.25 kV, final sections converted to 25 kV in March 1989.

London Overground

Local lines within London electrified with 25 kV are:

• North London line, between Acton Central and Stratford.
• Lea Valley lines
• Gospel Oak to Barking line
• Various other suburban lines in the north of the city are electrified as part of other routes mentioned above.

West Midlands

• West Coast Main Line routes electrified in the 1960s:
  • Trent Valley line
  • Stone to Colwich Line
  • Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford line
  • Stafford–Manchester line
  • Walsall–Wolverhampton line
• Commuter lines out of Birmingham New Street:
  • Cross-City Line: electrified 1993
  • Chase Line: New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley completed 2017

Manchester and North West area

• Manchester to Glossop / Hadfield (converted from the truncated 1500 V DC Manchester-Sheffield-Wath electric railway)
• Manchester to Liverpool via Earlestown line: electrified in 2015 as part of the Northern Hub project.
• Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway (part was converted to Manchester Metrolink)
• Styal Line: including branch to Manchester Airport
• Manchester–Preston line: via Bolton and Chorley completed 2019
• Preston to Blackpool North: completed 2018
• Stafford–Manchester line: branch of the WCML, electrified in the wake of the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan
• Crewe–Manchester line: branch of the WCML, electrified in the wake of the 1955 Modernisation Plan

Leeds area

In 1994, a project to electrify some of the local lines around Leeds was given authority to proceed. The project was called the "Leeds North West Electrification", which electrified:

• Airedale line to Skipton and Bradford Forster Square
• Wharfedale line to Ilkley
• Wakefield line electrified in 1989 as part of the East Coast Main Line electrification to London King's Cross
• In 2020 the electrification of the first part of the stalled TransPennine project, from Leeds to Dewsbury and Huddersfield, was approved and work also commenced on the York to Church Fenton section of the York to Leeds line.
• Electrification has now been completed between York and Church Fenton North.

Edinburgh

• In 1991, the ECML to Edinburgh was electrified. A few local routes were also electrified.
• Edinburgh Crossrail: Edinburgh Waverley to Newcraighall. The service is by DMUs, pending reopening of part of the Waverley Route.
• North Berwick Line: Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick
• Glasgow–Edinburgh via Carstairs line: some North Berwick Line trains continue to Glasgow Central. Intercity trains from the ECML continue to Glasgow Central.

Central Scotland

The route from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Bathgate has been reinstated between Bathgate and Airdrie and electrified throughout. It opened on 11 December 2010. The electrification of the main inter-city route between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street High Level via Falkirk was completed in 2017. The project, known as the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme, entailed infill electrification in the Glasgow area and Greenhill Junction to Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa, which mainly carry commuter services. Electric services on these lines commenced in December 2018.

Glasgow Suburban

Suburban electrification was begun during the 1960s in the wake of the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan. Electrification was piecemeal and is still incomplete, with a few commuter lines still unelectrified such as the East Kilbride branch and Glasgow to Anniesland via Maryhill, and the mainline from Glasgow to Carlisle via Kilmarnock and Dumfries.

The Glasgow Suburban railway network can be divided into three main areas:

• North Clyde Line: also known as the "Glasgow North Electric Suburban Line", one of the first lines in Glasgow electrified in 1960 (Helensburgh Central, Balloch and Milngavie to Glasgow Queen Street (Low Level) and to Springburn and Airdrie).
• South Clyde: the Cathcart Circle Line (Glasgow Central to Newton and Neilston) was electrified on 22 May 1962. The Inverclyde Line (Glasgow Central to Gourock and Wemyss Bay) was electrified in 1967. The Ayrshire Coast Line (Glasgow Central to Ayr, Largs and Ardrossan Harbour) was electrified in 1986–1987. The Paisley Canal line was electrified to Corkerhill from Glasgow Central, in late 2012 extended to Paisley.
• Argyle Line: between Dalmuir and Milngavie via Glasgow Central (Low Level) to Hamilton Circle, Larkhall, Lanark and Carstairs (via Hamilton, Motherwell or Holytown). There is also peak service to Coatbridge Central.

On the Glasgow–Edinburgh via Carstairs line, some North Berwick Line trains continue to Glasgow Central. A single daily East Coast intercity train from the ECML continues to and from Glasgow Central. The Shotts Line, Holytown Junction to Kirknewton was electrified in April 2019. The Cumbernauld Line to Springburn and the remaining section of the Motherwell–Cumbernauld line was electrified in mid 2014. The line between Springburn and Glasgow Queen Street (High Level) has not yet been completed. Until Glasgow Queen Street High Level has been electrified, electric Cumbernauld Line trains reverse at Springburn and run through Glasgow Queen Street Low Level station. The Whifflet Line between Whifflet and Rutherglen via Carmyle was electrified in late 2014.

2010s Network Rail electrification programme

In 2009, Lord Adonis was appointed Secretary of State for Transport. After a gap of more than a decade, electrification was back on the agenda and Adonis announced plans to electrify the Great Western Main Line from London to Swansea, as well as infill electrification schemes in the North West of England. In July 2012, the UK government announced £4.2 billion of new electrification schemes, all at 25 kV AC and reconfirmed schemes previously announced by Adonis. These were to be Northern Hub, Great Western Main Line, South Wales Main Line, Midland Main Line, Electric Spine, Crossrail, Gospel Oak to Barking line and West Midlands suburban lines. Rail transport in Scotland is a devolved matter for the Scottish Government but they too have pursued electrification with multiple schemes in the Central Belt. All these have been 25 kV AC also as in England and Wales. Electrification has not been without controversy with cancellations and various appearances of the Secretary of State for Transport called before the Transport Select Committee. The number of route miles electrified in these years was answered to a written question in parliament.

In November 2019 the annual statistics for route miles electrified was published by the DfT and shows that 38% of the UK network is now electrified.

The projects have been subject to cost overruns and delays, and on 8 November 2016 the government announced that several elements of the Great Western Main Line electrification programme would be indefinitely deferred. In an attempt to mitigate and improve the cost situation the Railway Industry Association published a report in March 2019 detailing why costs had risen and suggested ways forward.

However, in the new parliament after the 2019 General election, the Transport Select Committee chaired by Huw Merriman has met on a number of occasions and continued the "Trains fit for the future" enquiry theme started by the previous committee. On 23 March 2021, after many witnesses were called and written and oral evidence considered, a report was released calling for an immediate resumption of electrification in a rolling programme. However, in December 2021 in a story that appeared in the Telegraph it was stated that the Treasury had declined to support the electrification programme. Reputable peer reviewed journals state that electrification is the most relevant technology for reducing transports effect on the environment.

Other systems

1,500 V DC, overhead

• Tyne and Wear Metro: The Tyne & Wear Metro, which opened in 1980, is now the only system left in the UK using the 1500 V DC overhead lines. Although it is often described as "light rail", it is closer to a heavy metro, using only segregated track. Much of its route follows that of the previous Tyneside Electrics, which had been converted to diesel by 1967. Since 2002, the Metro has shared main-line track on the Durham Coast Line to Sunderland. This presents a potential problem for main-line services if routes into Sunderland or Newcastle upon Tyne that use this section were to be electrified at 25 kV AC.

Historically, there were more lines electrified at 1,500 V DC, but these have all since been either converted to 25 kV AC or closed. (see 1,500 V DC, overhead (historic))

750 V DC, overhead

Used on several tram systems:

• Edinburgh Trams
• Manchester Metrolink
• Sheffield Supertram
• Croydon Tramlink
• Nottingham Express Transit
• West Midlands Metro

Other overhead systems

• Blackpool Tramway: originally 550 V DC, in 2011 upgraded to 600 V to operate more modern rolling stock.
• The National Tramway Museum at Crich, Derbyshire uses 600 V DC. This voltage was chosen for maximum compatibility with its historic fleet of trams as well as more modern units.
• The Wirral Tramway uses 550 V DC.
• The Seaton Tramway uses 120 V DC.

Existing systems - third and fourth rails

National Rail: 650 V - 750 V DC, third rail (top contact)

Southern Electric

The extensive southern third rail electric network covers South London and the southern counties of Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey and Kent and Dorset,

The London and South Western Railway (L&SWR) third-rail system at 660 V DC began before World War I from London Waterloo to suburban destinations. The Southern Railway was formed in the 1923 grouping; it adopted the L&SWR system, and by 1929 the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) suburban overhead network was replaced by third rail. The South Eastern Main Line was electrified at 600 V, later upgraded to 750 V DC. The third rail extended throughout most South London lines out of all its London termini. Throughout the 1930s, there was much main line electrification, including the Brighton Main Line (including East, West Coastways and related routes in 1932–1933), the Portsmouth Direct line (4 July 1937) and to Maidstone and Gillingham (1939).

After World War II, electrification was soon resumed in the newly nationalised British Railways' Southern Region. The BR 1955 Modernisation Plan included the two-stage "Kent Coast Electrification". The Chatham Main Line was completed, followed by the South Eastern Main Line and related lines. The voltage was raised from 660 V to 750 V. Since then, all electrification has used 750 V; lines electrified before then remain at 660 V. Attention then switched to the neglected former L&SWR area (then the South Western Division). The South West Main Line (SWML) to Southampton Central and Bournemouth was electrified in 1967 and to Weymouth in 1988.

During sectorisation in the 1980s, Network SouthEast conducted extensive infill electrification. The Snow Hill tunnel was reopened, enabling Thameslink. The Hastings Line, Eastleigh–Fareham line and the Oxted line (East Grinstead branch) were electrified. This left only a few lines unelectrified: the West of England line, the Wessex Main Line, the North Downs Line, the Oxted line (Uckfield branch), the Marshlink line and the Eastleigh–Romsey line.

Merseyrail

Two lines of the Merseyrail network; the Northern line and the Wirral line use 750 V DC third rail (see Suburban electrification of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway for its history).

Island Line (Isle of Wight)

The single remaining national rail line on the Isle of Wight, from Ryde Pierhead to Shanklin (with the Wroxall to Ventnor section closed), was electrified in 1967, so that former London Underground rolling stock could be used, due to the limited height of Ryde Tunnel. The Island Line used 660 V DC third rail, as it was a cheaper option to convert the LUL stock into third rail, and implement third rail only on the line. The rolling stock currently used is British Rail Class 484s (D-Train). The line was upgraded to a 750 V DC third rail system in 2021 to allow Class 484 units to be used.

London Overground

• Euston to Watford Junction (Watford DC line).
• Richmond to Stratford (North London line). 750 V DC third rail from Richmond to Acton Central.
• West London line. 750 V DC from near the location of the former St. Quintin Park & Wormwood Scrubs railway station to Clapham Junction (shared with Southern services).
• East London line. Highbury & Islington to New Cross station and the junctions with the South London network near New Cross Gate station and Queens Road Peckham station. Formerly, the East London Line was a much shorter London Underground line with fourth rail 630 V DC between Shoreditch (closed 2006) and New Cross/New Cross Gate.

See Suburban electrification of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway for Euston–Watford DC Line history.

In 1970, the North London DC lines and the Class 501 EMUs used on these services were converted for third-rail operation, with the fourth rail generally being removed on sections not used by London Underground (LUL). Some fourth rail was retained in the Gunnersbury and Queens Park areas for emergency use by LUL. With the closure of Broad Street, the North London line was joined with the Stratford to North Woolwich line; this was electrified with third rail and overhead line as far as Stratford, third rail to North Woolwich. Two branches of the Watford DC line have been closed: to Rickmansworth in 1952 (to passengers, to goods in 1967) and to Croxley Green in 1996.

The Watford DC line between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone and the North London Line between Richmond and Gunnersbury are used by London Overground trains designed for 750 V third rail and Bakerloo line trains designed for 630 V third and fourth rail. As a compromise, the nominal line voltage is 650 V, and since 1970 the centre rail has been bonded to the return running rail. There are no special provisions required at Queens Park, where the two dissimilar systems meet, just a gap longer than one coach of a Bakerloo line train at the entry to (and exit from) the Bakerloo, which operates with a nominal -210 V on the fourth rail and +420 V on the third rail. There is no bridging of the incompatible systems as trains pass from one to the other since, like all UK electric trains intended to run extensively in tunnels, there is no continuity of traction power circuits between vehicles of the train.

A similar arrangement applies between Putney Bridge and Wimbledon, where the District line runs over tracks owned by Network Rail, which is also used by South Western Railway, though normally only for stock movements.

Northern City Line

The Northern City Line connects the East Coast Main Line to Moorgate. It was isolated by the abandonment of the 1930s New Works Programme (and the development of the Metropolitan Green Belt). Tube services were truncated at its northern end by the Victoria line in 1964 at Drayton Park. The remainder was handed over to British Rail in 1975 in conjunction with the suburban electrification of the East Coast Main Line. The line uses third-rail DC electrification between Moorgate and Drayton Park, where trains switch to 25 kV AC overhead.

630 V DC, fourth rail (top contact)

London Underground

The London Underground is a large metro system operating across Greater London and beyond, commonly known as "the Tube". Its 408-kilometre (254 mi) is made up of 11 lines; electrification began during the 1890s. It was largely unified between 1900 and 1910 and nationalised in 1933, becoming the railway component of London Transport (LT). A major expansion programme (the "New Works") was launched, in which LT took over several urban branches of mainline railways.

The Underground is mostly in North London; its expansion into south London was limited by geology unfavourable to tunnelling and by the extensive main-line network, much of which was being electrified (see "Southern Electric"). The Underground uses a relatively uncommon four rail system of electrification. Two standard gauge rails are the running rails; the outer third rail carries positive current at +420 V DC and the inner fourth rail is the negative return at –210 V DC, giving a supply voltage of 630 V DC. The chief advantage of the fourth-rail system is that, in tunnels with a metallic (usually cast-iron) lining, the return traction current does not leak into the lining causing electrolytic corrosion there or in adjacent utility mains. It also means that the two running rails are available exclusively for track circuits.

The surface sections use the fourth rail solely for operational consistency: the system shares track with Network Rail in several places. Where the track is shared with 750 V third-rail stock, the central rail is bonded to the running rails and the outside rail electrified at 660 V. This allows both types of train to operate satisfactorily. The suburban network of the London & North Western Railway (LNWR) was electrified in co-operation with the Underground, but during the 1970s British Rail introduced third-rail EMUs and the sections of the LNWR suburban network not used by the Underground had the fourth rail removed (see "London and North Western Railway", above).

The Underground has carried out studies to consider raising the voltage above the present 630 V nominal. New equipment at their substations does allow for a future increase to a standard 750 V nominal. In addition, the electrical equipment of new trains are also based on the use of 750 V rated equipment. So, whilst new equipment is being designed to for 750 V operation, no decision to increase the voltage has yet been made public by the Underground.

As part of the Four Lines Modernisation project, the subsurface lines have been upgraded to 750 V DC fourth rail operation, which is supported by the newer S7 and S8 stock. Where S-stock trains regularly interline with deep-level tube stock or where power supplies are shared, the voltage has been kept at 630 V DC since the rolling stock currently used on the Jubilee line and the Piccadilly line are incompatible with the higher voltage. As of February 2024, the only parts of the subsurface network which remain at a nominal 630 V are: between Finchley Road and Harrow-on-the-Hill (where the alignment and supply is shared with the Jubilee line), between Finchley Road and Uxbridge (where tracks are shared with the Piccadilly Line) and between Baron's Court and Ealing Broadway (where tracks are shared with the Piccadilly Line) but not on the Richmond and Wimbledon branches which have been upgraded to 750 V operation. The upgraded system allows for regenerative braking and the associated voltage surges, up to 890 V on the higher voltage tracks and up to 790 V or 650 V on the remaining 630 V tracks.

750 V DC, third rail (bottom contact)

Docklands Light Railway

This uses bottom-contact composite third rail, with an aluminium body and a steel contact surface. The advantage of this is a low-resistance, high-current-capacity rail with a durable steel surface for current collection. The rail may be surrounded by insulating material on the top and sides to reduce the risk of electrocution to railway staff and trespassers. The bottom-contact system is less prone to derangement by snow than top contact.

750 V DC, fourth rail (top contact)

Waterloo and City line

This system is unique to this line of London Underground operated railways. The use of 750 V came about because the line was originally owned by Railtrack and operated by Network South East. It was upgraded in 1992/3 for both traction supply and rolling stock. Railtrack upgraded the original three rail system to four rail to solve problems with electrolytic damage to the iron tunnel linings (the reason four rail operation was adopted for all other tube lines). They also changed the voltage to 750 V which had been adopted as their standard DC operating voltage some years earlier. The line was subsequently sold to London Underground in 1994 who inherited the non-standard system (for London Underground). The line is still powered from its own substation located in the Waterloo depot.

As part of the Four Lines Modernisation project, most of the subsurface network also operates at 750 V DC fourth rail.

600 V DC, third rail (top contact)

• Glasgow Subway, electrified in 1935

250 V DC, third rail (top contact)

• Hythe Pier Railway, electrified in 1922

110 V DC, third rail (top contact)

• Volk's Electric Railway was originally electrified at 50 V DC, raised to 160 V in 1884 and reduced to 110 V DC during the 1980s.

100 V DC, four rail

• The elevated "monorail" at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu uses rubber tyres running on two metal tracks, one on either side of the central guide. Because it is rubber-tyred, it requires two current conductors and two collectors (hence the four-rail designation).

Electrical Control

Mainline network

All electrified railways require equipment and dedicated personnel to administer the supply of traction current and respond to fault conditions or emergency incidents. On the British railway network, electrified lines have traditionally been managed by discrete Electrical Control Rooms (ECRs) whose operations and jurisdictions ran separately to signalling or service control. However, it is now intended that electrical control will be integrated into 8 of the 12 Rail Operating Centres (ROC) along with all signalling and train control in general. In addition, the Crossrail and South Wales Metro projects have introduced new electrical control rooms onto the heavy rail network which are part of those systems' respective Route/Rail Control Centres (RCC).

The most recent closure of an ECR was in Autumn 2023 when Selhurst ECR ceased operation. Selhurst's duties had been progressively transferred into an expansion of Brighton ECR since 2021.

Including the legacy standalone ECRs (many of which are still operational to differing degrees); the new ECRs that have been commissioned as part of ROCs; smaller systems' RCCs; and HS1's control centre at Ashford, the mainline network's electrification is currently controlled at 19 locations.

Obsolete systems

Great Britain has used different electrification systems in the past. Many of these date from the early part of the 20th century, when traction electricity was in the experimental stage. This section describes each system, in order of decreasing voltage.

6,600 V, 25 Hz AC, overhead

• Lancaster to Heysham via Morecambe: Used for an early trial of electrification; opened between 13 April and 14 September 1908. In 1953, it was converted to 50 Hz, and operated until 1966.
• 'Elevated Electric' London suburban lines of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR): The first large-scale suburban electrification scheme; starting with the South London Line and then extended to other commuter lines around the south of London, operational from 1 December 1909. Following the grouping into the LBSCR into the Southern Railway in 1922, all of the 6,600 V lines were converted to the 650 V DC third rail system by September 1929.

6,250 V 50 Hz AC, overhead

During the initial electrification of parts of the network to 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead, the initial solution to the limited clearance problems in suburban areas (due to numerous tunnels and bridges) in London and Glasgow was to use the lower voltage of 6.25 kV. Later technological improvements in insulation allowed these areas to be converted to 25 kV. The last sections of 6.25 kV were converted during the 1980s.

London, Tilbury and Southend Lines

The 6.25 kV section was from Fenchurch Street to beyond Barking, with changeovers there on both the Upminster and Tilbury lines. The section between Chalkwell and Shoeburyness was also at 6.25 kV. The remainder was at 25 kV. The sections electrified at 6.25 kV were converted to 25 kV during the early 1980s.

Great Eastern Lines

The line from Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria was originally electrified at 1,500 V DC overhead during the 1940s-50s. During the early 1960s, the whole of this line was converted to 6.25 kV AC overhead, while the main line east of Shenfield was progressively electrified at 25 kV, with changeover east of Shenfield. During the early 1980s, the line was again converted, this time to 25 kV.

The Cambridge line and branches from Liverpool Street was electrified in the early 1960s, with 6.25 kV out to a changeover at Cheshunt, and 25 kV beyond. The Chingford and Enfield lines were thus at 6.25 kV throughout. This route was again fully converted to 25 kV in the early 1980s.

As part of the electrification onwards to Cambridge and Norwich in the 1980s, electric locomotives were transferred to these routes from the West Coast route. These locomotives would not have been able to operate at 6.25 kV.

Glasgow Suburban network

On the North Clyde, the central section between Parkhead and before Dalmuir (Clydebank loop) and Westerton (Anniesland loop) were at 6.25 kV, with the outer sections at 25 kV. The Bridgeton and Springburn branches were thus at 6.25 kV throughout. The sections electrified at 6.25 kV were converted to 25 kV during the early 1980s.

On the South Clyde, the route from Glasgow Central around the Cathcart Loop was initially at 6.25 kV, with changeovers to 25 kV at Kings Park and Muirend on the Motherwell and Neilston routes. These lines were progressively converted to 25 kV in the 1970s and 1980s.

3,500 V DC, overhead

Bury to Holcombe Brook

This was electrified by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway in 1913 as part of a trial system for export. The system was converted to third rail in 1918 (see below).

1,500 V DC, overhead (historic)

After World War I, the UK Government set up a committee to investigate the various systems of railway electrification; in 1921, it recommended that 1,500 V DC overhead should be the future national standard. Several schemes were implemented in its wake, but the Great Depression and World War II meant that very little work was done. Technological advances after 1945 meant that the 25 kV AC system was adopted instead for the West Coast Main line and Glasgow suburban electrification (as set out in the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan). However, at the same time, large amounts of money had been (and were still being) spent converting several lines to 1,500 V DC.

Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway

A joint LMS and LNER scheme, it opened on 11 May 1931. The success of this scheme influenced LNER's later electrification schemes. The line was converted to 25 kV AC in 1971, but the stretch between Altrincham and Trafford Bar (plus the stretch between Trafford Bar and the Cornbrook viaduct) were later incorporated into Manchester Metrolink and converted again (this time to 750 V DC).

Manchester–Sheffield–Wath

Known as the Woodhead Route, the LNER chose this hilly (and busy) main line for its first mainline electrification, with work beginning in 1936. Due to the Depression and World War II, it was not completed until the 1950s. After completion, the government chose to standardise on 25 kV AC instead, leaving the Woodhead Route and the few other 1,500 V DC lines isolated and non-standard. The passenger locomotives were sold in 1969 and saw further service in the Netherlands. In a subsequent rationalisation, BR closed much of this route east of Hadfield in 1981 in favour of the more southerly Hope Valley line, which serves more local communities. A section of the line between Manchester, Glossop and Hadfield remained open as part of the Manchester suburban network, and was operated by Class 506 EMU's, until it was converted to 25 kV AC in December 1984.

Shenfield Metro

The LNER decided to electrify the Liverpool Street to Shenfield section of the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML), known as the Shenfield Metro. Civil engineering works began during the 1930s, but World War II intervened. Work was completed in 1949 and extended to Chelmsford and Southend Victoria in 1956, using Class 306 (AM6) EMUs. It was converted on 4–6 November 1960, in the wake of the BR 1955 Modernisation Plan, to the new standard of 25 kV AC (initially with some sections at 6.25 kV). The rest of the GEML was subsequently electrified.

Shildon to Newport

This line ran from Shildon (County Durham) to Newport (near Middlesbrough). The route was initially over the 1825 Stockton-to-Darlington line, then via Simpasture Junction (the former Clarence railway) through Carlton, Carlton Junction to Carlton South Junction, Bowesfield West Junction to Bowesfield Junction, through Thornaby and ending at Erimus Yard (Newport East). In the wake of the electrification of Tyneside by the NER, this coal-carrying line was electrified between 1 July 1915 and 1 January 1916 as a planned precursor to electrifying NER's busy York to Newcastle main line (part of the East Coast Main Line). The LNER removed this electrification system in 1935 (between 7 January and 8 July); the decline in the coal market making it economically unfeasible to undertake the significant renewals required to continue electric operation. The locomotives were stored for other electrified routes.

1,200 V DC, third rail (side-contact)

Manchester Victoria - Bury

In 1916, the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) electrified the Bury Line between Manchester Victoria and Bury Bolton Street (later switched to Bury Interchange) using 1,200 V DC third rail (side contact). The line between Bury and Holcombe Brook which had been electrified using 3,500 V DC overhead in 1913 was converted to this system in 1918. As the electrification scheme was a success, the L&YR drew up plans to electrify the Oldham Loop Line with the same system in the early 1920s. These plans were abandoned when the L&YR became part of the London and North Western Railway in 1922. The system survived until it was abandoned in 1991, when the line was converted to a 750 V DC overhead line system and became part of the Manchester Metrolink.

650 V DC, overhead

• Swansea and Mumbles Railway

600 V DC, third rail

Tyneside Electrics

This was electrified in 1904, in response to extensive competition from new electric trams. The concept was a success for the North Eastern Railway (NER), a noted pioneer in electrification, as passenger numbers returned to pre-tram levels. As the stock reached life expectancy in 1937, the network was remodelled by London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) to reflect the changing industrial and residential makeup of the area. Electrified, at the same time, was the dockside branch, where a pair of Class ES1 (formerly NER No.1 and 2) locomotives were introduced in 1905. These British Thomson-Houston locomotives operated from both the third rail and overhead line. British Rail removed the electrification between 1963 and 1967, citing the changing industrial and population makeup of the area which reduced the need for electric traction. Much of the Tyneside network was later re-electrified, (using 1500 V DC overhead), as the Tyne and Wear Metro.

525 V DC, third rail

Liverpool Overhead Railway

The Liverpool Overhead Railway was one of the earliest electric railways in Great Britain. The first section, between Alexandra Dock and Herculaneum Dock, was opened in 1893. The line connected with Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway's North Mersey Branch. It was never nationalised, and closed on 30 December 1956 due to extensive corrosion throughout its iron infrastructure (which was deemed uneconomical to replace).

500 V DC, overhead

• Grimsby and Immingham Electric Railway

500 V DC, third rail

City and South London Railway

The City and South London Railway electrification was unusual (compared with later schemes) in that it used a three-wire DC system. This meant that, although the offset centre third rail was electrified at +500 volts in the northbound tunnel, it was electrified at -500 volts in the southbound tunnel. The motors on the locomotives and the incandescent electric lamps in the carriages worked, regardless of the polarity of the supply. The three-wire system was adopted because the initial system was fed directly from the dynamos in the surface power plant at the Stockwell end of the line. It was important to minimise the voltage drop as much as possible, bearing in mind the rather steep gradient on the approach to King William Street Station.

440 V DC, third rail

London Post Office Railway

Underground railway under London operated by the Post Office. Operated between 1927 and closure in 2003. Partially re-opened as a tourist attraction in 2017.

See also

• British electric multiple units
• Campaign to Electrify Britain's Railways
• History of rail transport in Great Britain
• List of British electric locomotives

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Further reading

525 V DC, third rail

• Box, Charles E. (1959). Liverpool Overhead Railway. Railway World Ltd.
• Gahan, John W. (1992). Seventeen stations to Dingle - The Liverpool Overhead Railway remembered. Countyvise and Avon-Anglia. ISBN 0-907768-20-2.
• Bolger, Paul (1992). The Docker's Umbrella - A History of Liverpool Overhead Railway. The Bluecoat Press. ISBN 1-872568-05-X.
• Jarvis, Adrian (1996). Portrait of the Liverpool Overhead Railway. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-2468-5.

630 V DC, fourth rail

• Glover, John (2003). London's Underground (10th ed.). Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-2935-0.

650 V DC, third rail

• Maund, T.B. (2001). Merseyrail Electrics - The Inside Story. NBC Books. OCLC 655126526. OL 18942031M.

750 V DC, third rail

• Moody, G.T. (1979). Southern Electric 1909-1979. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0924-4.
• Glover, John (2001). Southern Electric. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-2807-9.

1,500 V DC, overhead

• Appleby, K.C. (1990). Shildon - Newport in Retrospect. Lincoln: Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. ISBN 0-901115-67-3.
• Dixon, Frank (1994). The Manchester South Junction & Altrincham Railway. The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-454-7.

6.6 kV 25 Hz AC, overhead

• Goslin, Geoff (2002). London's Elevated Electric Railway - The LBSCR Suburban Overhead Electrification 1909-1929. Connor & Butler Ltd. ISBN 978-0-947699-35-2.

25 kV 50 Hz AC, overhead

• Nock, O.S. (1966). Britain's New Railway. Ian Allan.
• Nock, O.S. (1974). Electric Euston to Glasgow. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0530-3.
• Boocock, Colin (1991). East Coast Electrification. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1979-7.
• Semmens, Peter (1991). Electrifying the East Coast Route. Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-929-6.
• "On board with electrification". Permanent Way Institution Journal. 139 (1). January 2021. ISSN 2057-2425 – via PWI.
• Glover, John (2003). Eastern Electric. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-2934-2.
• Keenor, Garry. Overhead Line Electrification for Railways.
• "Network Rail A Guide to Overhead Electrification Revision 10" (PDF). Network Rail. February 2015.

External links

• Citytransport.info's Electrification advocacy page

• Rail infrastructure in the United Kingdom
• Railway electrification by country
• Train-related introductions in 1883