East Midlands Councils (EMC) and Transport for the East Midlands (TfEM) have expressed dismay at the decision to ‘pause’ indefinitely the next phase of electrification of the Midland Main Line.
The announcement comes almost exactly 10 years after a previous Conservative Government also decided to ‘pause’ the scheme.
The Department for Transport has now confirmed that ‘investment will instead be focused on other schemes during this Spending Review period’.
As a result, there will be no further enhancements to the region’s railway before the next General Election.
Sir Peter Soulsby, chair of TfEM and mayor of Leicester, said: “We are deeply disappointed that the government has yet again paused work on electrifying the Midland Main Line.
“Electrification is not just a technical upgrade, it is a critical investment in the capacity, reliability and sustainability of our railway. It reduces carbon emissions, lowers operating costs, and provides the infrastructure that could transform local as well as inter-city rail services across the East Midlands.
“The Midland Main Line is now the only mainline route that remains largely non-electrified. This puts our region at a disadvantage compared to others and undermines the national ambition to deliver a cost effective, reliable, low-carbon railway.”
This is not the first time electrification of Midland Main Line has stalled with work on the route having faced numerous delays and cancellations over the last 45 years, despite repeated commitments from successive governments.
Work to electrify the Midland Main Line from London northwards started in 1981 but was terminated at Bedford in 1983. In 2009 the then Labour Government prioritised Great Western instead of the Midland Main Line, but in 2012 the successor Coalition Government committed to full Midland Main Line electrification by the end of that decade. Under the Conservatives the scheme was paused in 2015, cancelled in 2017 and then resurrected as part the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan in 2021.
Successive Government’s ‘stop-start’ approach to electrification has driven up costs compared to other European countries – including Germany, Ireland and even Scotland.
However, recent work by Network Rail to extend electrification to Market Harborough and South Wigston and to upgrade the wires south of Bedford has been completed on time and on budget.
Procurement of the next phase through Leicester and into Nottinghamshire was delayed by the 2024 General Election and then by the Spending Review – and now the scheme has been indefinitely ‘paused’ by Government.
There was a major opportunity to use Midland Main Line electrification to establish a ‘production approach’ – a UK template for affordable electrification which could cut unit costs by up to 30%. However, the knowledge and expertise gained over the last few years will now be lost as teams are demobilised.
Sir Peter continued: “Each pause damages confidence, makes delivery more expensive and pushes back the benefits for passengers, freight and the environment.
“TfEM has consistently made the case for full electrification of the Midland Main Line over many years. A case that has been accepted in principle but repeatedly delayed in practice. We urge the government to set out a clear, funded timetable for completion of the project, and to work with us to deliver the rail infrastructure this region needs and deserves.”
Midland Main Line electrification would create up to 4,300 new jobs, including many skilled roles and over 100 apprenticeships, generating £61 million in economic value from jobs created in the East Midlands and nearly £18 million in social value.
Elaine Clark, CEO of Rail Forum, said: “We are extremely disappointed at the Government’s decision to pause Midland Mainline Electrification (MMLe), a decision that will have a direct impact on supply chain businesses now. We risk losing further highly skilled individuals and jobs, which will ultimately add to costs for other projects.
“Stopping MMLe makes no sense; it is a shovel ready project that could deliver tangible benefits this parliament. It’s a bad decision for the UK taxpayer and it’s a bad decision for users of the MML with several of our larger cities now condemned to using diesel traction for the foreseeable future.”
The East Midlands is currently the most diesel-dependent region in Great Britain. East Midlands Railway is being forced to refurbish its fleet of 25-35-year old diesel trains to keep services running for another decade. Completing Midland Main Line electrification would allow for the introduction of next generation battery-electric rolling stock already deployed in Germany and Merseyside and unlocking an additional £400 million in socio-economic benefits.
EMC and TfEM will continue to press the case for completion of Midland Main Line electrification, alongside other rail and transport improvements to support growth, connectivity and sustainability across the region.
