West Coast Main Line route modernisation
The West Coast Main Line is a key strategic railway line in the United Kingdom. It links the cities of London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. Virgin Trains took on the franchise to run train services on the routes in 1997 and as part of the agreement wanted an upgrade to the railway line to allow for faster more frequent trains to grow the business.[1] The upgrade started in 1998 and was completed in 2009.[2] It came under parliamentary and media scrutiny because of cost and schedule overruns.[3] Further improvements such as the Norton Bridge rail flyover were completed after these dates.[4] The project is sometimes given the acronym WCRM - West Coast Route Modernisation.[5]
Previous modernisations
In the middle of the twentieth century the line was upgraded substantially as part of the 1955 Modernisation Plan.[6][7] Further electrification was discussed in 1968.[8] The line north of Crewe was modernised by further electrification from Weaver Junction to Glasgow in the 1970s.[9][10] Some innovative electronics technology were used on the project including lighter catenary and extensive use of headspans.[11] The Advanced Passenger Train concept was in effect a part of that upgrade. It relied on tilting trains to increase speed on the route rather than major civil engineering interventions.[12][13]
Post privatisation modernisation
The late 20th and early 21st century modernisation began without public sector involvement but with Railtrack. However, the Strategic Rail Authority was concerned about cost overruns. Railtrack asked the government for more money to complete the project but the Labour Party Secretary of State for Transport Stephen Byers put the company into liquidation. This and other problems with this project and its cost and time overruns, is usually considered the cause of the liquidation of Railtrack.[14][15] In 2002 Bechtel were invited to join the project.[16] The upgrade went substantially over budget.[17][18] Regular updates were then conducted by the UK Parliament accounts department.[19] The Strategic Rail Authority published a document in June 2003 which re-examined and clarified many of the assumptions and specified the direction and scope of the whole project.[20]
Technical aspects
The upgrade involved:[21]
- Major remodeling of Rugby railway station[22]
- Proof House Junction in Birmingham was also remodelled.
- Many Level crossings were either removed or modernised - 77 in total.
- Over 800 points, switches and crossings renewed and improved
- Overhead line renewals
- Power supply upgrade to autotransformer system
- Track renewals- 430 miles[23]
- Over 2000 signals modified or renewed with better line of sight etc.[24]
- Quadrifying the two track section in the Trent Valley including TAME viaduct[25][26][27]
Benefits
The benefits of the project are claimed to be capacity improvements, journey time reductions of up to 28% in some cases and improved safety.[28] Although Virgin Trains were part of the driver for the project, the client is actually listed as the Department for Transport. The length of the project was just short of 11 years (110 months) and the final contract cost of approximately 9 billion pounds.[29] The Campaign for Better Transport (United Kingdom) has stated that the benefits are 1) Road congestion reduction. 2) Carbon emissions reduction. 3) Economic and 4)Passenger benefits. It is claimed it was part of the reason that the BBC decided to move its main operations from London to the north.[30]
Capacity enhancements
The Campaign for Better Transport (United Kingdom) in their paper entitled "Transformation of the West Coast Main Line" stated there are 40% more long distance services overall. There are 25% more between London and Scotland; 50% more between London and Birmingham and 150% more between London and Manchester.[31]
Safety
The removal and reduction of level crossings during the modernisation was one factor in improving the safety. A spokesperson for UK Railway Inspectorate made the statement in 2004 that "level crossings create the greatest potential for catastrophic risk on the railways".[32]
Road Congestion
Road congestion reduction has been harder to quantify but modeling that has been done suggests 26,000 less car journeys on the M1 and M40 motorways as a direct result along with as many as 7 million less car journeys between the cities of London and Manchester.[33]
Environment/Carbon emissions
On the London to Manchester route alone between 2009 and 2017, the modernisation resulted in a 77% increase in rail passengers; 23,000 tonnes of carbon saving and a 27% reduction in air passengers. The air passenger reduction was between Manchester and Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead and London City Airports. The number of flights between cities served by the WCML declined 67% since 2004 pre-COVID.[34]
Passenger benefits
In addition to journey time reductions, another result of the modernisation was an increase in capacity such that a 20 minute frequency of trains (3 per hour) between London and Manchester and London and Birmingham at key hours resulted.[35]
Issues - future work still needed
During modernisation, much of the signaling was renewed and concentrated in Rugby. However, money ran out and so the south end of the line still uses Wembley which controls assets that fail frequently.[36] This point of failure will need to be addressed in the future.
2020 onwards ongoing improvements
Carstairs has long being considered a bottleneck on the WCML and improvements including signaling, track renewal and other work finished in October 2022. Further work will continue in 2023 which will include work on the drains and also embankments.[37]
Timeline
Date | Event |
---|---|
1998 | Agreement between Railtrack and Virgin Trains to upgrade the line. |
October 2001 | Railtrack goes into liquidation.[38][39] |
January 2002 | Secretary of State for Transport Stephen Byers ask SRA to intervene and get project back on track. |
May 2002 | Estimate of programme cost increases from £2.5 billion to £14.5 billion. |
December 2005 | High-speed tilting trains introduced.[40] |
October 2007 | First section of Trent Valley four-tracking scheme opened.[41] |
December 2008 | Work mainly completed.[42] |
2014 | Works start on the Norton Bridge project. |
April 2015 | Work to replace bridge at Watford completed to enable line speed increase from 90 mph to 125 mph.[43] |
March 2016 | First trains use the Norton Bridge rail flyover completed on budget and 18 months ahead of schedule.[44][45] |
October 2022 | Major track renewal, signaling and simplification of track layout at Carstairs completed. |
See also
- 21st-century modernisation of the Great Western Main Line
- Felixstowe–Nuneaton railway upgrade
- High Speed 2
- History of rail transport in Great Britain 1995 to date
- Midland Main Line railway upgrade
- North West England electrification schemes
- Overhead line
- Railway electrification in Scotland
- Transpennine north railway upgrade
References
- ^ "UK West Coast Route Modernisation Project - SEBoK". www.sebokwiki.org. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Transformation of the West Coast Mainline" (PDF). Campaign for better transport. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "The Modernisation of the West Coast Main Line - National Audit Office (NAO) Report". National Audit Office. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "First trains use Norton Bridge rail flyover". A Little Bit of Stone. 29 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 September 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "West Coast Main Line - Railway Technology". www.railway-technology.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Evans, Andrew W. (1969). "Intercity Travel and the London Midland Electrification". Journal of Transport Economics and Policy. 3 (1): 69–95. ISSN 0022-5258.
- ^ Nock, O.S. (1965). Britain's new railway: Electrification of the London-Midland main lines from Euston to Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Liverpool and Manchester. London: Ian Allan. OCLC 59003738.
- ^ "Route Improvements Weaver Junction to Glasgow" (PDF). Railway Archives. April 1968.
- ^ Nock, O.S. (1974). Electric Euston to Glasgow. Ian Allen. ISBN 978-0711005303.
- ^ "Electric all the way" (PDF). Railways archive. May 1974.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "BR electrifies West-Coast extension". Electronics and Power. 20 (11): 469. 1974. doi:10.1049/ep.1974.0354.
- ^ Jones, S. (1975). "The Advanced Passenger Train: An economic alternative to the construction of new track for High Speed". Rail International (7). Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "APT tilting train: The laughing stock that changed the world". BBC News. 18 December 2015. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Blood on the tracks". The Economist. 11 October 2001. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Railtrack makes final departure from stock market". The Independent. 14 November 2013. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "West Coast Main Line". Bechtel Corporate. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "The Modernisation of the West Coast Main Line - National Audit Office (NAO) Report". National Audit Office. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "The Modernisation of the West Coast Main Line" (PDF). National Audit Organisation. 22 November 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "The Modernisation of the West Coast Main Line" (PDF). UK Parliament. 4 June 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "West Coast Main Line Strategy" (PDF). Railways archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 December 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "West Coast Route Modernisation". www.networkrailconsulting.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR RUGBY STATION GIVEN APPROVAL". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Spoors, Richard; Martin, James (2005). "Modernising the UK's west coast main line railway". Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Civil Engineering. 158 (3): 112–119. doi:10.1680/cien.2005.158.3.112. ISSN 0965-089X.
- ^ "Gantry Pole | Crown International". Crown International | Expertise in innovative road and rail infrastructure. 25 August 2010. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "MAKING TRACKS IN TRENT VALLEY". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Lichfield Trent Valley Four Tracking Project". Abacus. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Baker, A. H. W.; Webb, D.; Fearnhead, R. (2007). "West Coast route modernisation: River Tame viaduct". Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Bridge Engineering. 160 (4): 163–172. doi:10.1680/bren.2007.160.4.163. ISSN 1478-4637.
- ^ "West Coast Route Modernisation". www.networkrailconsulting.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "West Coast Route Modernisation" (PDF). Network Rail. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "Transformation of the West Coast Mainline" (PDF). Campaign for Better Transport. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Transformation of the West Coast Main Line" (PDF). Campaign for Better Transport. March 2019. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Rail level crossings discouraged". BBC. 7 November 2004. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ "Transformation of the West Coast Mainline" (PDF). Campaign for better transport. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Transformation of the West Coast Main Line" (PDF). Campaign for Better Transport. March 2019. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "West Coast Route Modernisation". www.networkrailconsulting.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ Abbott, James (March 2022). "Keeping the premier line up to scratch". Modern Railways. Vol. 79. Key Publishing. pp. 56–59.
- ^ "Carstairs junction upgrade is key to modernising network". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Blood on the tracks". The Economist. 11 October 2001. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "CNN.com - Railtrack investors annoyed but better off - June 27, 2002". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "High-speed tilting train on track". 12 December 2005. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "MAKING TRACKS IN TRENT VALLEY". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "West Coast rail works completed". 14 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "Orphanage Road bridge to be replaced as work to upgrade railway at Watford continues". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "Passengers benefiting from £250m railway upgrade between Stafford and Crewe". Network Rail Media Centre. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "First trains use Norton Bridge rail flyover". A Little Bit of Stone. 29 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 September 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
Further reading
- Nock, O.S. (1965). Britain's new railway: Electrification of the London-Midland main lines from Euston to Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Crewe, Liverpool and Manchester. London: Ian Allan. OCLC 59003738.
- Nock, O.S. (1974). Electric Euston to Glasgow. Ian Allen. ISBN 978-0711005303.
- Wickens, Alan (Summer 1988). "APT - With Hindsight". Newsletter of the Friends of the National Railway Museum.
- "On board with electrification". Permanent Way Institution Journal. 139 (1). January 2021. ISSN 2057-2425 – via PWI.
- Wolmar, Christian (2005). On the Wrong Line: How Ideology and Incompetence Wrecked Britain's Railways (rev. ed.). London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1-85410-998-7.
- WOLMAR, CHRISTIAN (2022). BRITISH RAIL-A new History. [S.l.]: MICHAEL JOSEPH. ISBN 0-241-45620-7. OCLC 1246353492.
- Keenor, Garry. Overhead Line Electrification for Railways - 6th edition.
- "Network Rail A Guide to Overhead Electrification Revision 10" (PDF). Network Rail. February 2015.
- Buck, Martin; Rawlinson, Mark (2000). Line By Line: The West Coast Main Line, London Euston to Glasgow Central. Swindon: Freightmaster Publishing. ISBN 0-9537540-0-6.
- "EUSTON MAIN LINE ELECTRIFICATION, A Technical Conference sponsored jointly by the British Railways Board and the Institutions of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Locomotive, and Railway Signal Engineers, 25–26th October 1966". Conference Proceedings. Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMECH). 181 (6 (Part 3F)). 1966–67.
- Brentnall, E. G. (1966). "Signalling and telecommunications works on the Euston main line electrification". Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Conference Proceedings. 181 (36): 65–86. doi:10.1243/PIME_CONF_1966_181_108_02.
- Butland, A. N. (1966). "Civil engineering works of the Euston main line electrification scheme". Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Conference Proceedings. 181 (36): 51–64. doi:10.1243/PIME_CONF_1966_181_107_02.
- Emerson, A. H. (1966). "Electrification of the London Midland main line from Euston". Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Conference Proceedings. 181 (36): 17–50. doi:10.1243/PIME_CONF_1966_181_105_02.
External websites
- Electric All The Way – 1974 British Rail information booklet about the completion of electrification to Glasgow.
- Rail Industry Web page monitoring progress of the project
- Department of Transport – 2006 – West Coast Main Line – Update Report
- CS1 maint: url-status
- Articles with short description
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- Main inter-regional railway lines in Great Britain
- Railway lines in North West England
- Transport policy in the United Kingdom
- Virgin Trains