EU support for rail improvements in the UK to bring faster travel times

The European Union is to co-finance a project to electrify a 58 km section of British rail infrastructure with US$6.5 million from the TEN-T Programme. The project, which was selected for funding under the 2011 TEN-T Annual Call, is part of the Railway/road axis Ireland/United Kingdom/continental Europe TEN-T Priority Project 26, and will bring considerable benefits to rail traffic in the area. The project consists of the works necessary to install a 25kV AC overhead electrification line on a 58 km single
December 12, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
The 1816 European Union is to co-finance a project to electrify a 58 km section of British rail infrastructure with US$6.5 million from the TEN-T Programme.  The project, which was selected for funding under the 2011 TEN-T Annual Call, is part of the Railway/road axis Ireland/United Kingdom/continental Europe TEN-T Priority Project 26, and will bring considerable benefits to rail traffic in the area.

The project consists of the works necessary to install a 25kV AC overhead electrification line on a 58 km single track railway line between Castlefield Junction in Manchester and Newton-le-Willows and Lowton Junctions (roughly halfway to Liverpool).  Works include establishing suitable electrical and gauge clearances along the concerned route, and the installation of 25kV overhead line equipment.

Once finalised, the electrification project will bring considerable benefits for:

• Passengers: Additional trains due to better route management plus an electrified direct route to Manchester Airport

• Rail freight transport: Enhanced capacity between Manchester and TEN-T Priority Project 14 (West Coast Main Line)

• Freight forwarders: Lower costs thanks to reduced costs of leasing, operating and maintaining electric trains

• The environment: reduced emissions as diesel trains are phased out in favour of electric ones

The project will be managed by the 6025 Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency and is set to be completed by December 2014.
Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Transport MEPs call for boost in development of transport infrastructure
    September 30, 2016
    Improvements in maximising the use of EU funding are needed to reduce disparities in infrastructure development between Central and Eastern Europe and the rest of the EU, MEPs say in an own-initiative report voted in the Transport and Tourism committee on Monday. EU member states and the European Commission should focus on completing the TEN-T corridors, bridging missing links, removing bottlenecks and improve connections between different modes of transport. To date, most of the transport infrastructure
    Read More
  • Kapsch supplies GSM-R solution to Saudi Arabia
    June 24, 2013
    Kapsch CarrierCom is to supply its GSM-R railway communications solution for a prestigious project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to ensure safe train operations on the 450 km high speed line between the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The contract, awarded by Indra and the Saudi Railways Organisation, utilises the latest technology based on the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) level 2. The rail line will connect multiple urban regions as well as the international King Abdullah Airport. The
    Read More
  • Lancashire road and rail improvements announced
    September 20, 2013
    Plans for projects to update the road and rail networks in Lancashire have been announced by Transport for Lancashire, a new body comprising Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Borough Council. The projects will develop, approve and fund major transport infrastructure work with a US$152 million budget from the (DfT) Department for Transport the City Deal for the Preston area, and developer contributions.
    Read More
  • US budget proposals seek recognise ITS benefits
    April 30, 2015
    President Obama’s latest budget brings some good news for the transportation and ITS sectors. President Obama’s proposed 2016 budget could see more progress on many of America’s ingrained transportation problems than has been achieved in some time and includes a six-year $478 billion surface transportation reauthorisation. That is, of course, provided it clears all of the administrative hurdles to become law.
    Read More

Highlighted Content