Journeys between Kettering and Wigston will soon be performed by electric trains following an official declaration that the line is ready and safe for their operation along the route, with the final decision officiated both on time and under budget.
Certification was awarded by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), which issued the Authorisation to Place into Service (APiS) for the section of the route connecting.
To further facilitate the section’s electrification; Network Rail is also working to deliver a new substation at Braybooke, near Market Harborough, in order to provide extra power to the network.
The 23-mile section of track forms part of Network Rail’s Midland Main Line Electrification Programme, the largest programme of improvements on the line since 1870.
First energised in summer 2024, a series of tests have been carried out along the section of track, as well as more general investigation into the improvement of the line’s overall efficiency including the possibility of placing masts further apart in order to reduce both costs and construction time.
Seven bridges and four signal gantries along the electrified section utilise voltage controlled clearance (VCC) technology, which reduces the need for bridge rebuilds and road closures.
Jorge Roque, Network Rail senior programme integration manager, said:This is a huge milestone for the Midland Main Line Electrification Programme. It was achieved on time and under budget, and builds on the previous completion of London to Corby, meaning electric trains are able to run on here in the future.
The use of VCC on this Kettering to Wigston section has also saved time, money and avoided lengthy road closures. Where it can be used, it’s a much better solution for residents living nearby, and for this project it reduced more complex interventions such as bridge reconstructions.
