Sheffield is set to remain the largest city in the UK without electrified railways after the Government announced a pause of the electrification of the Midland Mainline (MML) in the North and Midlands.<\/p>\n
The key route connects London St Pancras and Sheffield via the East Midlands. Working north, Network Rail had previously envisaged reaching Sheffield at the end of 2020 but work was paused at Kettering and effectively cancelled when plans were announced for new bi-mode intercity trains<\/a> that are able to run on both electrified and non-electrified lines.<\/p>\n Work reportedly continued on the plans but DfT documents relating to the recent spending review show that the off-and-on project has been paused again. <\/p>\n The previous government’s Network North document proposed an extension of the electrification of the MML from Sheffield to Doncaster and Leeds (potentially through Rotherham and its planned new station). Electrification to Sheffield was included in the proposition set out in Lord Blunkett’s Yorkshire\u2019s Plan for Rail<\/a>.<\/p>\n Progress on the MML is in contrast to the upgrade of the East Coast Mainline (ECML) that links Doncaster and London which completed in 2020 and paved the way for the introduction of new trains, such as LNER\u2019s Azuma and Hull Trains\u2019 Paragon fleets.<\/p>\n Government documents confirm: “The next phase of electrification [phase 3 to Sheffield] of the Midland Main Line has been paused. Due to rising costs and the substantial electrification that has already been delivered, we are prioritising our funding on other schemes over the Spending Review period. We will continue to keep the potential for full electrification of the route under review as part of our plans to decarbonise our railways and as funding becomes available in future.”<\/p>\n The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combimned Authority says that it means that Sheffield will be relying instead on older, more polluting diesel trains that are slower, less reliable, and worse for the environment.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/b><\/p>\n South Yorkshire\u2019s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: \u201cThere\u2019s frustration in the region. After decades of national underinvestment in our transport network, we\u2019re having to wait longer for vital rail improvements that would create jobs, opportunities and economic growth. It feels like one step forward and two steps back.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were told HS2 would come to Sheffield. That was cancelled. Now electrification of Midland Main Line is being paused. All we\u2019re asking for is a fair deal.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve raised my concerns directly with the government, and I\u2019ll keep doing so. South Yorkshire deserves a modern, reliable, and sustainable transport network – and I won\u2019t stop fighting for it.\u201d<\/p>\n The region previously missed out when HS2 to Sheffield was one of the first legs to be cancelled which would have reduced the journey time from Sheffield to London from 120 minutes to 87 minutes, with additional seating capacity on brand new electric trains through electrification of MML.<\/p>\n