The first few miles of railway line from York to Church Fenton that is being electrified as part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade have been completed.

This is the first of ten miles of line is to be electrified between Church Fenton and Colton Junction by the end of this year.

Colton Junction is where trains from Leeds join the East Coast Main Line towards York, and one of the busiest stretches of railway in the north, with over 100 trains passing through each day.

The Transpennine Route Upgrade will eventually deliver a cleaner, greener, fully electrified railway between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester. Work began on the York to Church Fenton electrification scheme in October 2019, and to date has delivered:

• 17 km of new, more reliable track, ready to run faster trains;
• an innovative 65-metre-wide under-track crossing;
• 270 new steel masts for supporting the overhead electric wires.

To maintain an eco-friendly construction, the new equipment was built nearby at the -new Joseph Lynn Logistics Hub in Sherburn-in-Elmet, before being transported to the site by train.

When the full 76-mile route is complete, it is estimated that there will be a saving of 87,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, equivalent to 5.9 million car journeys along the same route. For people living near the railway, it will also mean better air quality and quieter trains.

When the new wires are energised, they will allow more environmentally friendly hybrid trains to run along this section at speeds of up to 125 mph, which is 30 mph faster than they currently run.

Rob McIntosh, Managing Director for Network Rail‘s Eastern Region said:

“This is a huge moment for the Transpennine Route Upgrade and really represents the forward shift we’ve seen in recent months.

“This first major milestone in York promises a cleaner, greener future where passengers in the north of England can confidently rely on the railway to get them to where they need to be in good time.”

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said:

“Thanks to our £96bn Integrated Rail Plan, the biggest single investment in the UK’s rail network ever, we’re now delivering faster, cleaner and more frequent travel for passengers across the North.

“As we level up the country, it’s critical that people across the UK have access to rail networks they can rely on. Yorkshire‘s new electric railway is a key step in delivering just that.”