Electric Spine

The "Electric Spine" is an £800-million project of railway electrification in Great Britain. New 25 kV AC railway electrification will be installed from the Port of Southampton northwards to major cities and dry port container terminals in the The Midlands. The overall shape is a north–south axis leading to the spine name. The first stage is the extension of the Midland Main Line overhead electrification from the present limit at Bedford railway station, northwards to Nottingham railway station which is scheduled to be completed by 2019 as part of Network Rail Control Period 5. Following phases are Trent Junction via Derby railway station to Sheffield railway station; electrification of the rebuilt East West Rail Link between Oxford railway station and Bedford; the Reading to Basingstoke Line, Coventry to Leamington Line and Coventry to Nuneaton Line; and ultimately conversion of the South Western Main Line between Southampton and Basingstoke from third rail DC electrification to overhead.