This year marks the 50th anniversary of the electrification of the West Coast Main Line – helping more people travel from Glasgow to London and beyond faster and more reliably thanks to electric trains.
It was a significant milestone for the modern railway, which continues to electrify routes for better journeys for you and freight.
A vital line
The railway got permission for the £74m work – the last stage of electrification from London Euston – in 1970. It would electrify the line from Weaver Junction at Crewe to Glasgow.
British Rail had already electrified the line between London and Manchester and Liverpool. This work completed in 1966. But the project on the West Coast Main Line was far from easy …
Passengers previously travelled on this route on steam locomotives and diesel trains. Electrifying the line would lead to faster and more reliable services.
In fact, soon after the electrification completed, it was recorded that a journey between Glasgow to London Euston along the West Coast Main Line took just five hours. This was a huge improvement from the early days of steam locomotives, when the same journey was took six and a half hours, according to Electric all the way: London to Glasgow by British Rail.
The West Coast Main Line was also considered at the time to be the country’s most important route, especially as it carried passengers and heavy freight. Today, the line is one of Europe’s busiest mixed-use railways. So electrifying the line was an important step in helping the railway to continue to compete with motorways and air travel.
A complex job and new technology
Over the next four years, engineers installed 1,750 miles of overhead electric wires, over 227 miles of track. They then completely re-signalled the line and built new stations – often in some very challenging weather.
The new line speed was 100mph, which meant the railway needed a new, more powerful type of electric locomotive – the Class 87. It was the third generation of electric locomotives built for running along 25,000-volt alternating current electrified mainlines.
It was also the first type to include a new safety feature developed by British Rail to help keep drivers vigilant while they worked. It consisted of a two-position foot-pedal that the driver had to keep pressed down while the train was in ‘drive’ position. After 60 seconds, a continuous audible signal began and if the pedal was not released and depressed to reset the system, it would trigger an emergency brake application.
Electrifying the wider network
The West Coast Main Line was electrified once more in the 2000s to increase the line speed to 125mph and bring it in line with current standards.
Electrifications of major routes since include the Great Western Main Line, which links London Paddington to Bristol and South Wales.
We’re also continuing to electrify more of the railway with projects like the Transpennine Route Upgrade and the Midland Main Line Upgrade.
Electrifying our railway is an important part of our wider mission to bring you a modern railway. Electric trains are quieter for passengers and for people who live near the railway. They’re also greener and more reliable.
Electrifying the railway will help us reach our net zero carbon emissions target by 2050.
It’s also a crucial part of our mission to boost rail links across Britain. It’ll help make our railway fit for the future, by keeping Britain – and you – better connected.
