Editing Chase Line (section)

==Electrification==
The line between {{rws|Birmingham New Street}} and {{rws|Walsall}} were [[25 kV AC railway electrification|electrified]] in 1966 as an offshoot of the [[West Coast Main Line]] electrification, along with the [[Walsall–Wolverhampton line]].<ref>{{cite book| title=British Railways Engineering 1948–80| first1=John| last1=Johnson| first2=Robert A.| last2=Long| publisher=Mechanical Engineering Publications Ltd.| year=1981}}</ref>

[[File:Cannock_Railway_Station_2019.jpg|thumb|[[Cannock railway station]] following the completion of electrification.]]

In July 2012, [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|the coalition government]] announced the electrification of the Chase Line between {{rws|Rugeley Trent Valley}} and {{rws|Walsall}}, with work scheduled to take place from 2014. It was estimated to cost around £36&nbsp;million, as part of a £9.4&nbsp;billion package of investment in the railways in England and Wales, including £4.2&nbsp;billion of new schemes, unveiled by the government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chase Line Electrification on target for completion|url=https://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/council/news/articles/chase-line-electrification-target-completion|website=Cannock Chase Council|accessdate=16 June 2016|date=1 December 2015|archive-date=5 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105102003/http://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/council/news/articles/chase-line-electrification-target-completion|url-status=live}}</ref> Preliminary work to re-signal the route ahead of electrification was completed in August 2013, with the closure of the three remaining manual signal boxes at Bloxwich, Hednesford & Brereton Sidings and the panel boxes at Walsall & Bescot. Control of the area passed to the [[Saltley Rail Operating Centre]].

The work originally had an estimated completion date of December 2017, but previously unknown mine shafts underneath the track meant that many bases for the overhead infrastructure had to be redesigned.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport-news/2016/12/10/delays-due-on-chase-line-electrification-work/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222183215/http://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport-news/2016/12/10/delays-due-on-chase-line-electrification-work/ |archive-date=22 December 2016 |title=Delays due on Chase line electrification work « Express & Star}}</ref> Network Rail closed the line in August 2017 for two weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport/2017/04/27/chase-line-to-shut-for-a-fortnight-in-move-to-hit-commuters-between-rugeley-and-walsall/|title=Chase Line to shut for fortnight hitting commuters between Rugeley and Walsall|date=27 April 2017 |access-date=9 May 2017|archive-date=4 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204222948/https://www.expressandstar.com/news/transport/2017/04/27/chase-line-to-shut-for-a-fortnight-in-move-to-hit-commuters-between-rugeley-and-walsall/|url-status=live}}</ref> The electrification was finally completed in December 2018,<ref name=eleccompletion/> the first electric train services started in May 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/west-midlands-railway-promises-more-16256836|title=More carriages promised on line after electric upgrade|date=10 May 2019|access-date=10 May 2019|archive-date=10 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510143556/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/west-midlands-railway-promises-more-16256836|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Effects of electrification of the line===
The electrification of the line was accompanied by a speed increase from {{cvt|45|mph}} to {{cvt|60|mph|}}. Bloxwich level crossing closed to motorised traffic in January 2018, and the bridge at Central Drive, north of the crossing, had been strengthened and widened to improve the alternative route. This enabled a {{cvt|25|mph}} speed limit to be lifted to {{cvt|50|mph}}. It also enabled the line to transport [[Freight route utilisation strategy|W10 freight containers]].

For passengers using the stations north of Walsall, the changes meant shorter journey times<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.go-hs2.com/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.aspx?lID=100&sID=63| title=High speed rail and supporting investments in the West Midlands| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210247/http://www.go-hs2.com/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.aspx?lID=100&sID=63| archive-date=12 August 2014}}</ref> and longer trains, which reduced overcrowding to Birmingham with 2 trains per hour (tph) for the whole day, continuing direct to [[Birmingham International railway station|Birmingham International]] (1tph). The electrification itself created over 1,300 jobs in the area and generated a further £113 million of [[gross value added]] (GVA) benefit per annum, as well as reducing the operating costs of the line. In May 2014, London Midland announced that it was intending to run longer trains<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/05/17/more-seats-on-trains-after-30-million-chase-line-work/ |title=More seats on trains after £30m Chase Line work |date=17 May 2014 |access-date=21 March 2018 |archive-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011072149/https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/05/17/more-seats-on-trains-after-30-million-chase-line-work/ |url-status=live }}</ref> on the route, requiring station platforms to be extended to accommodate.

[[Gavin Williamson]], Conservative MP for South Staffordshire, campaigned to limit the speed of trains through Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay when the upgrade work of the line was to be completed. He wrote to then Transport Secretary [[Patrick McLoughlin]], to request confirmation that trains travelling through the areas would not exceed a speed of 45&nbsp;mph.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gavinwilliamson.org/news/mp-meets-under-secretary-state-over-speed-trains-through-great-wyrley-cheslyn-hay-0 |title=Gavin Williamson MP meets with the under secretary of state over speed of trains through Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay |date=11 February 2014 |access-date=10 August 2014 |archive-date=12 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210204/http://www.gavinwilliamson.org/news/mp-meets-under-secretary-state-over-speed-trains-through-great-wyrley-cheslyn-hay-0 |url-status=live }}</ref> He also requested that "environmental mitigation measures" be put in place to reduce the potential impact of the electrification on residents in South Staffordshire. Network Rail had previously said that electric trains are quieter, greener and cleaner, reducing carbon emissions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2013/nov/Work-is-underway-to-electrify-the-Chase-Line/ |title=Network rail announcement for the Chase Line upgrade |access-date=10 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112175440/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2013/nov/Work-is-underway-to-electrify-the-Chase-Line/ |archive-date=12 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>