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Midland Main Line

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Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox rail line Template:Midland Main Line RDT Template:Midland New Road

The Midland Main Line (MML), sometimes also spelt Midland Mainline, is a major railway line from London to Sheffield in Yorkshire via the East Midlands. It comprises the lines from London's St Pancras station via Template:Rws, Template:Rws/Template:Stn and Template:Rws.

Express passenger services on the line are operated by East Midlands Railway (EMR). The line is electrified between St Pancras and Wigston, south of Leicester, and the section south of Bedford forms a branch of the northern half of the Thameslink network, with a semi-fast service to Brighton and other suburban services. A northern part of the route, between Derby and Chesterfield, also forms part of the Cross Country Route operated by CrossCountry. Tracks from Nottingham to Leeds via Barnsley and Sheffield are shared with Northern. East Midlands Railway also operates regional and local services using parts of the line.

The Midland Main Line is undergoing a major upgrade of new digital signalling and full line electrification from London to Sheffield.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> High Speed 2 was planned to branch onto the Midland Main Line at East Midlands Parkway railway station.<ref name=IRP>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HistoryEdit

Midland Counties early developmentsEdit

File:British main lines railway diagram.png
The Midland Main Line (green) in relation to other main lines
File:ATP-E IN YARD.jpg
British Rail APT-E built at Derby rail technical centre and extensively tested on the Midland Main Line its first run being on 25 July 1972 from Derby to Duffield

The Midland Main Line was built in stages between the 1830s and the 1870s. The earliest section was opened by the Midland Counties Railway between Nottingham and Derby on 4 June 1839.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 5 May 1840 the section of the route from Trent Junction to Leicester was opened.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The line at Derby was joined on 1 July 1840 by the North Midland Railway to Leeds Hunslet Lane via Chesterfield, Rotherham Masborough,<ref group="n">Quickly the Sheffield and Rotherham Railway ran its branch line to Sheffield Wicker</ref> Swinton, and Normanton.

On 10 May 1844 the North Midland Railway, the Midland Counties Railway and the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway merged to form the Midland Railway.

Midland Main Line southern extensionsEdit

Without its own route to London, the Midland Railway relied upon a junction at Template:Rws with the London and Birmingham Railway line for access to the capital at London Euston. By the 1850s, the junction at Rugby had become severely congested. The Midland Railway employed Thomas Brassey to construct a new route from Leicester to Template:Rws via Kettering, Wellingborough, and Bedford giving access to London via the Great Northern Railway from Hitchin.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Crimean War resulted in a shortage of labour and finance, and only £900,000 (Template:Inflation)Template:Inflation-fn was available for the construction, approximately £15,000 for each mile (Template:Inflation.<ref name="Leleux">Template:Cite book</ref> To reduce construction costs, the railway followed natural contours, resulting in many curves and gradients. Seven bridges and one tunnel were required, with Template:Cvt cuttings at Desborough and Sharnbrook. There are also major summits at Kibworth, Desbrough and at Sharnbrook where a 1 in 119 gradient from the south over Template:Convert takes the line to Template:Convert above sea level. This route opened for coal traffic on 15 April 1857, goods on 4 May, and passengers on 8 May.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The section between Leicester and Bedford is still part of the Midland Main Line.

While this took some of the pressure off the route through Rugby, the GNR insisted that passengers for London alight at Hitchin, buying tickets in the short time available, to catch a GNR train to finish their journey. James Allport arranged a seven-year deal with the GN to run into Kings Cross for a guaranteed £20,000 a year (Template:Inflation).Template:Inflation-fn Through services to London were introduced in February 1858.<ref>Davies, R.; Grant, M.D. (1984). Forgotten Railways: Chilterns and Cotswolds. Newton Abbot, Devon: David St John Thomas. Template:ISBN, p. 110–111.</ref>

This line met with similar capacity problems at Hitchin as the former route via Rugby, so a new line was constructed from Bedford via Luton to Template:Rws<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which opened on 1 October 1868.<ref name="Leleux"/> The construction of the London extension cost £9 million (equivalent to £Template:Inflation million in Template:Inflation-year).<ref name="Barnes">Template:Cite book</ref>

As traffic built up, the Midland Railway opened a new deviation just north of Market Harborough railway station on 26 June 1885 to remove the flat crossing of the Rugby and Stamford Railway.<ref>Radford, B., (1983) Midland Line Memories: a Pictorial History of the Midland Railway Main Line Between London (St Pancras) & Derby London: Bloomsbury Books</ref>

Northernmost sectionsEdit

{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= {{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= Template:Ambox }} }} Plans by the Midland Railway to build a direct line from Derby to Manchester were thwarted in 1863 by the builders of the Buxton line who sought to monopolise onTemplate:Clarify the West Coast Main Line.

In 1870, the Midland Railway opened a new route from Chesterfield to Rotherham which went through Sheffield via the Bradway Tunnel.

The mid-1870s, saw the Midland line extended northwards through the Yorkshire Dales and Eden Valley on what is now called the Settle–Carlisle Railway.

Before the line closures of the Beeching era, the lines to Buxton and via Millers Dale during most years presented an alternate (and competing) main line from London to Manchester, carrying named expresses such as The Palatine and the "Blue Pullman" diesel powered Manchester – London service (the Midland Pullman). Express trains to Leeds and Scotland such as the Thames–Clyde Express mainly used the Midland's corollary Erewash Valley line, returned to it, and then used the Settle–Carlisle line. Expresses to Edinburgh Waverley, such as The Waverley travelled through Corby and Nottingham.

Under British Railways and privatisationEdit

Most Leicester-Nottingham local passenger trains were taken over by diesel units from 14 April 1958, taking about 51 minutes between the two cities.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>Template:Full citation needed When the Great Central Main Line closed in 1966, the Midland Main Line became the only direct main-line rail link between London and the East Midlands and parts of South Yorkshire.

The Beeching cuts and electrification of the West Coast Main Line brought an end to the marginally longer London–Manchester service via Sheffield.

In 1977, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Nationalised Industries recommended considering electrification of more of Britain's rail network, and by 1979 BR presented a range of options that included electrifying the Midland Main Line from London to Yorkshire by 2000.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> By 1983, the line had been electrified from Moorgate to Bedford, but proposals to continue electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield were not implemented.

File:MML43083 at Nottingham 2005-10-14 03.jpg
A Midland Mainline High Speed Train, introduced in 1983 by British Rail, at Template:Rws in 2005

The introduction of the High Speed Train (HST) in May 1983, following the Leicester area resignalling, brought about an increase of the ruling line speed on the fast lines from Template:Convert to Template:Convert.

Between 2001 and 2003, the line between Derby and Sheffield was upgraded from Template:Convert to Template:Convert as part of Operation Princess, the Network Rail funded CrossCountry route upgrade.

In January 2009, a new station, East Midlands Parkway, was opened between Loughborough and Trent Junction, to act as a park-and-ride station for suburban travellers from East Midlands cities and to serve nearby East Midlands Airport.<ref>Template:Cite press releaseTemplate:Dead link</ref>

Since then, Template:Convert running has been introduced on extended stretches. Improved signalling, increased number of tracks, and the revival of proposals to extend electrification from Bedford to Sheffield are underway. Much of this £70 million upgrade, including some line-speed increases, came online on 9 December 2013 (see below).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Network Rail route strategy for freight 2007Edit

Network Rail published a Route Utilisation Strategy for freight in 2007;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> over the coming years a cross-country freight route will be developed enhancing the Birmingham to Peterborough Line, increasing capacity through Leicester, and remodelling Syston and Wigston junctions.

Network Rail 2010 route planEdit

File:New Road Bridge, Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire.png
Bridges over the Midland Main Line have been replaced to allow greater clearances for electrification and larger rolling stock. Before (top) and after (bottom) the 2014 upgrade.

Traffic levels on the Midland Main Line are rising faster than the national average, with continued increases predicted. In 2006, the Strategic Rail Authority produced a Route Utilisation Strategy for the Midland Main Line to propose ways of meeting this demand;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Network Rail started a new study in February 2008 and this was published in February 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="bbc-to-be-electrified">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ft-odell-parker">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After electrification, the North Northamptonshire towns (Wellingborough, Kettering, and Corby) are planned to have an additional 'Outer Suburban service' into London St Pancras, similar to the West Midlands Trains' Crewe – London Euston services, to cater for the growing commuter market. North Northamptonshire is a major growth area, with over 7,400 new homes planned to be built in Wellingborough<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and 5,500 new homes planned for Kettering.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="rail742">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Highlights include:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Update inline

  • Upgraded approach signalling (flashing yellow aspects) added at key junctions – Radlett, Harpenden, and Leagrave allowing trains to traverse them at higher speedsTemplate:Update inline
  • Lengthening of platforms at Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Loughborough, Long Eaton, and Beeston stations as well as work related to the Thameslink Programme (see below)
  • Realignment of the track and construction of new platforms to increase the permissible speed through Market Harborough station from 60 mph to 85 mph saving 30–60 seconds
  • Electrification (see below)
  • Re-doubling the Kettering to Oakham Line between Kettering North Junction and Corby as well as re-signalling to Syston Junction via Oakham, allowing a half hourly London to Corby passenger service (from an infrastructure perspective) from December 2017 and creating additional paths for rail freight.<ref name="rail742"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Thameslink ProgrammeEdit

{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= {{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= Template:Ambox }}

}}

File:West Hampstead Thameslink Station building.jpg
New station building at West Hampstead Thameslink

The Thameslink Programme has lengthened the platforms at most stations south of Bedford to 12-car capability. St Pancras, Cricklewood, Hendon, and Luton Airport Parkway were already long enough, but bridges at Kentish Town mean it cannot expand beyond the current 8-car platform length. West Hampstead Thameslink has a new footbridge and a new station building. In September 2014 the current Thameslink Great Northern franchise was awarded and trains on this route are currently operated by Thameslink. In 2018 the Thameslink network expanded when some Southern services merged into it.

Station improvementsEdit

In 2013/14 Template:Rws station was refurbished and the platforms restructured.

As part of Wellingborough's Stanton Cross development, Template:Rws station is to be expanded.<ref>"Wellingborough railway station expansion plan unveiled". BBC News. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2013.</ref>

Template:Rws between Template:Rws and Template:Rws was opened on 2 April 2017.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref>

Two new stations were planned:

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> the government confirmed in April 2025 that main construction would begin in concert with the nearby Universal Studios Great Britain Theme Park in 2026,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> although groundwork had already begun by late 2024.

Some new stations have been proposed:

Extension of electrificationEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

File:2019 at Wellingborough station - Up Slow line being relaid.JPG
Electrification work and track being relaid at Template:Stnlnk in 2019

Unlike the West Coast and East Coast Main Lines, the Midland Main Line has not been electrified along its full length. The line was electrified as far as Bedford in the early 1980s, but services relied on diesel traction beyond that.

In 2011 work commenced to extend the electrification, including to both Corby and Nottingham. Increasing costs initially saw this terminated at Kettering in 2017, but in 2021 work began on extending electrification to Market Harborough and onwards to Wigston with plans to extend further to Sheffield.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In May 2022, a briefing to contractors was released ahead of an invitation to tender for Midland Mainline Electrification project work to extend electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield. This scheme is expected to cost £1.3 billion.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2021 Integrated Rail PlanEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In November 2021 the Government announced its Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands which made a number of proposals for the Midland Main Line. These included a commitment to complete the stalled electrification work, an upgrade to digital signalling, and a connection to High Speed 2. The latter would see a junction built south of East Midlands Parkway station rather than the previous plan of an East Midlands Hub further north on the Toton sidings. This will allow HS2 services to connect to both Derby and Nottingham city centres directly using the MML for access, which was a criticism of the previous HS2 eastern leg proposal.<ref name=IRP/>

Route definitionEdit

The term Midland Main Line has been used from the late 1840s to describe any route of the Midland Railway on which express trains were operated.

It is first recorded in print in 1848 in Bradshaw's railway almanack of that year.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1849 it begins to be mentioned regularly in newspapers such as the Derby Mercury.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1867, the Birmingham Journal uses the term to describe the new railway running into St Pancras railway station.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1868, the term was used to describe the Midland Railway main route from North to South through Sheffield<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and also on routes to Manchester, Leeds and Carlisle.

Under British Rail the term was used to define the route between St Pancras and Sheffield, but since then, Network Rail has restricted it in its description of Route 19<ref name="Route19">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to the lines between St. Pancras and Chesterfield.

AccidentsEdit

OperatorsEdit

File:Leicester - Abellio 222104 arriving from Lincoln.JPG
East Midlands Railway Template:Brc at Template:Stnlnk
File:700013 Sevenoaks to London Blackfriars 2B81 (37214254496).jpg
Thameslink Template:Brc

East Midlands RailwayEdit

The principal operator is East Midlands Railway, which operates four InterCity trains every hour from London St Pancras with two trains per hour to both Nottingham and Template:Stnlnk. EMR use Template:Brc Meridian trains in various carriage formations for its InterCity services.

EMR also operate a twice hourly commuter service from London St Pancras to Corby, which is branded as EMR Connect, using Class 360 Desiro electric trains.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

ThameslinkEdit

Thameslink provides frequent, 24-hour<ref>First Capital Connect: Thameslink Route Timetable B Template:Webarchive Retrieved 24 August 2013</ref> commuter services south of Bedford as part of its Thameslink route to London Bridge, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, and Sutton, using 8-car and 12-car electric Template:Brc trains.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Other operatorsEdit

CrossCountry runs an hourly service between Derby and Sheffield on its route between the South West and North East, and twice-hourly services between Nottingham and Derby, continuing to Birmingham and Cardiff. Northern runs an hourly service from Leeds to Nottingham via Barnsley and Alfreton. TransPennine Express also operates in the Sheffield area.

Route descriptionEdit

The cities, towns and villages served by the MML are listed below. Stations in bold have a high usage. This table includes the historical extensions to Manchester (where it linked to the West Coast Main Line) and Carlisle (via Leeds where it meets with the 'modern' East Coast Main Line).

Network Rail groups all lines in the East Midlands and the route north as far as Chesterfield and south to London as route 19. The actual line extends beyond this into routes 10 and 11.

London to Nottingham and Sheffield (Network Rail Route 19)Edit

Station Village/town/city and county Ordnance Survey
grid reference 		Year opened Step free access No. of platforms Usage 2015/16
(millions) 		Branches and loops
London St Pancras St Pancras, London 1868 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 15 Template:Increase 31.724 High Speed 1 diverges north of St Pancras
Kentish Town Kentish Town, London 1868 4 Template:Increase 2.844 Branch from to Gospel Oak to Barking line north of station
Template:Rws West Hampstead, London 1871 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 4 Template:Increase 3.710
Template:Rws Cricklewood, London 1868 4 Template:Decrease 1.057 Dudding Hill Line diverges north of Cricklewood
Template:Rws Brent Cross, London 2023 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 4 Dudding Hill Line diverges south of Brent Cross
Template:Rws Hendon, London 1868 4 Template:Decrease 1.178
Template:Rws Mill Hill, London [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|TQ213918_region:GB_scale:25000|TQ213918|name=}}}} 1868 4 Template:Decrease 1.949
Template:Rws Borehamwood, Hertfordshire 1868 4 Template:Decrease 3.382
Template:Rws Radlett, Hertfordshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|TQ164998_region:GB_scale:25000|TQ164998|name=}}}} 1868 4 Template:Decrease 1.188
Template:Rws St Albans, Hertfordshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|TL155070_region:GB_scale:25000|TL155070|name=}}}} 1868 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 4 Template:Decrease 7.451
Template:Rws Harpenden, Hertfordshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|TL137142_region:GB_scale:25000|TL137142|name=}}}} 1868 4 Template:Increase 3.337
Template:Rws Luton, Bedfordshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|TL105205_region:GB_scale:25000|TL105205|name=}}}} 1999 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 4 Template:Increase 3.188
Template:Rws Luton, Bedfordshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|TL092216_region:GB_scale:25000|TL092216|name=}}}} 1868 5 Template:Increase 3.626
Template:Rws Leagrave, Luton, Bedfordshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|TL061241_region:GB_scale:25000|TL061241|name=}}}} 1868 4 Template:Increase 1.915
Template:Rws Harlington, Bedfordshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|TL034303_region:GB_scale:25000|TL034303|name=}}}} 1868 4 Template:Increase 0.336
Template:Rws Flitwick, Bedfordshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|TL034350_region:GB_scale:25000|TL034350|name=}}}} 1870 4 Template:Increase 1.480
Template:Rws Midland Bedford, Bedfordshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|TL041497_region:GB_scale:25000|TL041497|name=}}}} 1859 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 5 Template:Increase 3.830 Marston Vale line diverges south of Bedford
Template:Rws Wellingborough, Northamptonshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SP903681_region:GB_scale:25000|SP903681|name=}}}} 1857 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 4 Template:Increase 0.969
Template:Rws Kettering, Northamptonshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SP863780_region:GB_scale:25000|SP863780|name=}}}} 1857 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 4 Template:Increase 1.042 Oakham–Kettering line diverges north of Kettering at Glendon Jun
via Corby & diversion route
Template:Rws Corby, Northamptonshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SP891886_region:GB_scale:25000|SP891886|name=}}}} 2009 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 1 Template:Increase 0.278 Oakham–Kettering line
Template:Rws Oakham, Rutland [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK856090_region:GB_scale:25000|SK856090|name=}}}} 1848 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 2 Template:Increase 0.213 Birmingham–Peterborough line
Template:Rws Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK752187_region:GB_scale:25000|SK752187|name=}}}} 1848 2 Template:Increase 0.266
Main Line via Market Harborough
Template:Rws Market Harborough, Leicestershire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SP741874_region:GB_scale:25000|SP741874|name=}}}} 1850 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 2 Template:Increase 0.870
Template:Rws Leicester, Leicestershire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK593041_region:GB_scale:25000|SK593041|name=}}}} 1840 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 4 Template:Increase 5.247 Birmingham to Peterborough Line diverges south of Leicester at Wigston Junction
Template:Rws Syston, Leicestershire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK621111_region:GB_scale:25000|SK621111|name=}}}} 1994 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 1 Template:Increase 0.210 Birmingham to Peterborough Line diverges north of Syston
Template:Rws Sileby, Leicestershire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK602151_region:GB_scale:25000|SK602151|name=}}}} 1994 2 Template:Increase 0.123
Template:Rws Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK577172_region:GB_scale:25000|SK577172|name=}}}} 1994 2 Template:Increase 0.098
Template:Rws Loughborough, Leicestershire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK543204_region:GB_scale:25000|SK543204|name=}}}} 1872 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 3 Template:Decrease 1.298
Template:Rws Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire (for East Midlands Airport) [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK496296_region:GB_scale:25000|SK496296|name=}}}} 2007 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 4 Template:Increase 0.306 Trent Junction to Clay Cross Junction via Derby (the original line), the Nottingham branch, and the Erewash Valley Line each diverge north of East Midlands Parkway
Via Derby
Template:Rws Long Eaton, Derbyshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK481321_region:GB_scale:25000|SK481321|name=}}}} 1888 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 2 Template:Decrease 0.660 Cord south of Long Eaton to the Nottingham branch
Template:Rws Spondon, Derby, Derbyshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK397351_region:GB_scale:25000|SK397351|name=}}}} 1839 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 2 Template:Decrease 0.026
Derby Derby, Derbyshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK362355_region:GB_scale:25000|SK362355|name=}}}} 1839 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 6 Template:Increase 3.767 Cross Country Route and Crewe to Derby Line diverges south of Derby
Template:Rws Duffield, Derbyshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK345435_region:GB_scale:25000|SK345435|name=}}}} 1841 3 Template:Increase 0.061
Template:Rws Belper, Derbyshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK348475_region:GB_scale:25000|SK348475|name=}}}} 1840 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 2 Template:Increase 0.225
Template:Rws Ambergate, Derbyshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK348516_region:GB_scale:25000|SK348516|name=}}}} 1840 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 1 Template:Decrease 0.042 Derwent Valley line diverges at Ambergate Junction
Via Nottingham
Template:Rws Attenborough, Nottinghamshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK518346_region:GB_scale:25000|SK518346|name=}}}} 1856 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 2 Template:Decrease 0.112
Template:Rws Beeston, Nottinghamshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK533362_region:GB_scale:25000|SK533362|name=}}}} 1839 2 Template:Decrease 0.574
Template:Rws Midland Nottingham, Nottinghamshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK574392_region:GB_scale:25000|SK574392|name=}}}} 1904 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 7 Template:Increase 7.200 Northbound trains reverse towards Langley Mill. Others pass through the station onto the Robin Hood Line, Grantham line or Lincoln line.
Via Erewash Valley (bypassing or calling at Nottingham)
Template:Rws Ilkeston, Derbyshire 2017 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 2
Template:Rws Langley Mill, Derbyshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK449470_region:GB_scale:25000|SK449470|name=}}}} 1847 2 Template:Increase 0.116 Erewash Valley and Trent Nottingham lines rejoin south of Langley Mill.
Template:Rws Alfreton, Derbyshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK422561_region:GB_scale:25000|SK422561|name=}}}} 1862 2 Template:Increase 0.283
Clay Cross Junction to Leeds
Template:Rws Chesterfield, Derbyshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK388714_region:GB_scale:25000|SK388714|name=}}}} 1840 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 3 Template:Increase 1.731 Trent Junction to Clay Cross via Derby and Erewash Valley lines rejoin together south of Chesterfield.
Template:Rws Dronfield, Derbyshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK354784_region:GB_scale:25000|SK354784|name=}}}} 1981 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 2 Template:Increase 0.200 Hope Valley line diverges north of Dronfield
Sheffield Sheffield, South Yorkshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK358869_region:GB_scale:25000|SK358869|name=}}}} 1870 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 9 Template:Increase 9.213 Hope Valley Line diverges south of Sheffield
Sheffield to Lincoln Line diverges north of Sheffield
Meadowhall Interchange Sheffield, South Yorkshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SK390912_region:GB_scale:25000|SK390912|name=}}}} 1990 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 4 NR Template:Decrease 2.138 Hallam and Penistone Lines diverges at Meadowhall
Via Doncaster
Template:Rws Doncaster, South Yorkshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SE571032_region:GB_scale:25000|SE571032|name=}}}} 1838 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 8 Template:Increase 3.752 Connects to the East Coast Main Line south of Doncaster
Bypassing Doncaster
Template:Rws Wakefield, West Yorkshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SE327207_region:GB_scale:25000|SE327207|name=}}}} 1867 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 2 Template:Increase 2.519 Connects with the East Coast Main Line south of Wakefield Westgate
Leeds Leeds, West Yorkshire [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|{{#if:Template:Yesno|Grid|grid}} reference]] {{#invoke:Ordnance Survey coordinates|oscoord|SE299331_region:GB_scale:25000|SE299331|name=}}}} 1938 File:Wheelchair symbol.svg 17 Template:Increase 29.724 Leeds City lines

Tunnels, viaducts and major bridgesEdit

Major civil engineering structures on the Midland Main Line include the following.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>

Tunnels, viaducts and major bridges on the Midland Main Line
Railway Structure Length Distance from London St Pancras International ELR Location
East Bank Tunnel Template:Convert 158 miles 05 chains – 158 miles 01 chains TJC1 South of Sheffield station
Bradway Tunnel Template:Convert 153 miles 61 chains – 152 miles 49 chains North of Dronfield station
Unstone Viaduct (River Drone) Template:Convert 149 miles 75 chains – 149 miles 69 chains Between Dronfield and Chesterfield stations
Former Broomhouse Tunnel
Whitting Moor Road Viaduct 148 miles 45 chains
Alfreton Tunnel Template:Convert 135 miles 50 chains – 135 miles 11 chains (via Toton) TCC Erewash Valley Line between Alfreton and Langley Mill stations
Cromford Canal 132 miles 67 chains (via Toton)
Erewash Canal 128 miles 09 chains (via Toton) Erewash Valley Line south of Langley Mill station
Clay Cross Tunnel Template:Convert 147 miles 22 chains – 146 miles 21 chains SPC8 Between Chesterfield and Belper stations
River Amber 140 miles 40 chains
Wingfield Tunnel Template:Convert 139 miles 59 chains – 139 miles 47 chains
Toadmoor Tunnel Template:Convert 138 miles 12 chains – 138 miles 07 chains
River Derwent / Broadholme Viaducts Template:Convert,
Template:Convert 		136 miles 47 chains – 136 miles 41 chains, 136 miles 18 chains – 136 miles 11 chains
Swainsley Viaduct (River Derwent) Template:Convert 134 miles 61 chains – 134 miles 57 chains Between Belper and Duffield stations
Milford Tunnel Template:Convert 134 miles 25 chains – 133 miles 67 chains
Burley Viaduct (River Derwent) Template:Convert 131 miles 58 chains – 131 miles 54 chains Between Duffield and Derby stations
Nottingham Road Viaduct Template:Convert 128 miles 43 chains – 128 miles 40 chains
River Derwent Viaduct Template:Convert 128 miles 06 chains – 128 miles 03 chains
Trent Viaduct Template:Convert 119 miles 08 chains – 118 miles 77 chains SPC6 Between Long Eaton and East Midlands Parkway station
Redhill Tunnels Template:Convert,
Template:Convert 		118 miles 74 chains – 118 miles 66 chains
River Soar 112 miles 74 chains SPC5 Between East Midlands Parkway and Loughborough stations
Flood openings Template:Convert 112 miles 60 chains – 112 miles 58 chains
Hermitage Brook Flood Openings Template:Convert 111 miles 41 chains – 111 miles 38 chains South of Loughborough station
River Soar 109 miles 55 chains North of Barrow-upon-Soar station
River Wreak 104 miles 60 chains South of Sileby station
Knighton Tunnel Template:Convert 98 miles 07 chains – 98 miles 02 chains SPC4 South of Leicester station
Knighton Viaduct Template:Convert 97 miles 34 chains – 97 miles 30 chains
Wellingborough Viaducts (River Ise) Template:Convert 64 miles 57 chains – 64 miles 51 chains SPC2 South of Wellingborough station
Irchester Viaducts (River Nene) Template:Convert 63 miles 67 chains – 63 miles 60 chains
Sharnbrook Tunnel (Slow line only) Template:Convert 60 miles 04 chains – 59 miles 00 chains WYM Between Wellingborough and Bedford stations
Sharnbrook Viaducts Template:Convert 56 miles 25 chains – 56 miles 16 chains SPC2
Radwell Viaducts Template:Convert 55 miles 03 chains – 54 miles 76½ chains
Milton Ernest Viaducts Template:Convert 54 miles 25 chains – 54 miles 17 chains
Oakley Viaducts Template:Convert 53 miles 35 chains – 53 miles 29 chains
Clapham Viaducts (River Ouse) Template:Convert 52 miles 04 chains – 51 miles 78 chains
Bromham Viaducts (River Ouse) Template:Convert 50 miles 79 chains – 50 miles 72 chains
River Great Ouse Viaduct Template:Convert 49 miles 38 chains – 49 miles 33 chains SPC1 Between Bedford and Flitwick stations
Ampthill Tunnels Template:Convert 42 miles 52 chains – 42 miles 19 chains
Hyde/Chiltern Green Viaduct (River Lea) Template:Convert 26 miles 72 chains – 26 miles 66 chains South of Luton Airport Parkway station
Elstree Tunnels Template:Convert 12 miles 06 chains – 11 miles 38 chains South of Elstree & Borehamwood station
Stoneyfield/Deans Brook Viaduct Template:Convert 10 miles 36 chains – 10 miles 32 chains Between Elstree & Borehamwood and Hendon stations
Welsh Harp/Brent Viaduct (River Brent) Template:Convert 6 miles 31 chains – 6 miles 21 chains South of Hendon station
Belsize Slow Tunnel Template:Convert 3 miles 34 chains – 2 miles 29 chains Between West Hampstead Thameslink and Kentish Town stations
Belsize Fast Tunnel Template:Convert 3 miles 32 chains – 2 miles 33 chains
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Template:Convert 2 miles 22 chains – 2 miles 17 chains
Hampstead Tunnel Template:Convert 1 mile 76 chains – 1 mile 74 chains
Camden Road Tunnels Template:Convert 1 miles 13 chains – 0 miles 79 chains South of Kentish Town station
Canal Tunnels Template:Convert 0 miles 0 chains – 0 miles 0 chains Connecting to ECML at Belle Island Junction

Line-side monitoring equipmentEdit

Line-side train monitoring equipment includes hot axle box detectors (HABD) and wheel impact load detectors (WILD) ‘Wheelchex’, these are located as follows.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1" />

Line-side monitoring equipment on the Midland Main Line
Name / Type Line Location (distance from St. Pancras) Engineers Line Reference
Dore HABD (out of use?) Down Main 154 miles 72 chains TJC1
Belper HABD (to replace Duffield HABD) Up Main 134 miles 70 chains SPC8
Duffield Junction HABD (removal planned) Up Main 132 miles 63 chains
Langley Mill HABD Up Erewash Fast, Up & Down Erewash Slow 129 miles 27 chains TCC
Loughborough HABD Up Fast, Up Slow 111 miles 05 chains SPC5
Barrow-upon-Soar HABD Down Fast, Down Slow 108 miles 72 chains
Thurmaston Wheelchex Down Fast, Up Fast, Up & Down Slow 101 miles 78 chains
East Langton HABD Down Main, Up Main 86 miles 20 chains SPC3
Harrowden Junction HABD Down Fast, Up & Down Slow 67 miles 36 chains
Oakley HABD Up Fast, Up Slow 53 miles 60 chains SPC2
Chiltern Green HABD Down Fast, Down Slow 27 miles 69 chains SPC1
Napsbury HABD Up Fast, Up Slow 18 miles 00 chains

Ambergate Junction to ManchesterEdit

File:Ambergate junction.jpg
The complex network of road and rail around Ambergate Junction, formerly where Manchester expresses left the mainline

For marketing and franchising, this is no longer considered part of the Midland Main Line: see Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway

The line was once the Midland Railway's route from London St Pancras to Manchester, branching at Ambergate Junction along the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, now known as the Derwent Valley line. In days gone by, it featured named expresses such as The Palatine. Much later in the twentieth century, it carried the Midland Pullman.

Town/City Station Ordnance Survey
grid reference
Ambergate Template:Stnlnk
Whatstandwell Template:Stnlnk
Cromford Template:Stnlnk
Matlock Bath Template:Stnlnk
Matlock Template:Stnlnk
Closed section stations
Darley Dale Darley Dale
Rowsley Rowsley
Bakewell Template:Stnlnk
Hassop Template:Stnlnk
Great Longstone Template:Stnlnk
Monsal Dale Template:Stnlnk
Millers Dale Template:Stnlnk
Blackwell Mill Template:Stnlnk
Buxton Buxton
Peak Forest Template:Stnlnk
Chapel-en-le-Frith Template:Stnlnk
Now part of the Hope Valley line or other lines
Chinley Template:Stnlnk
Bugsworth Template:Stnlnk (Now Closed)
New Mills Template:Stnlnk
Strines Template:Stnlnk
Marple Template:Stnlnk
Romiley Template:Stnlnk
Bredbury Template:Stnlnk
Brinnington Template:Stnlnk
Reddish Template:Stnlnk
Gorton Template:Stnlnk
Belle Vue/Gorton Template:Stnlnk
Stockport Stockport Tiviot Dale
Manchester Template:Stnlnk (Now Closed)

This line was closed in the 1960s between Template:Stnlnk and Template:Stnlnk, severing an important link between Manchester and the East Midlands, which has never been satisfactorily replaced by any mode of transport. A section of the route remains in the hands of the Peak Rail preservation group, operating between Matlock and Rowsley to the north.

Leeds to CarlisleEdit

For marketing and franchising, this is no longer considered part of the Midland Main Line: see Settle–Carlisle Railway.

File:MidlandMainLineBradfordDiversion.JPG
A geographical representation of the aborted Midland Main Line diversion through the West Riding, which would have put Bradford on a through line and provided a direct connection to Scotland. (Existing lines shown in black and the diversion in red).
File:Colne, Halifax, Holmfield & Keighley Laister Dyke, Bowling, Bradford, Low Moor & Shipley RJD 8.jpg
Map showing the proposed Midland line into Bradford

World War I prevented the Midland Railway from finishing its direct route through the West Riding to join the Settle and Carlisle (which would have cut six miles from the journey and avoided the need for reversal at Leeds).

The first part of the Midland's West Riding extension from the main line at Royston (Yorks.) to Dewsbury was opened before the war. However, the second part of the extension was not completed. This involved a viaduct at Dewsbury over the River Calder, a tunnel under Dewsbury Moor and a new approach railway into Bradford from the south at a lower level than the existing railway (a good part of which was to be in tunnel) leading into Bradford Midland (or Bradford Forster Square) station.

The Template:Convert gap between the stations at Bradford still exists. Closing it today would also need to take into account the different levels between the two Bradford stations, a task made easier in the days of electric rather than steam traction, allowing for steeper gradients than possible at the time of the Midland's proposed extension.

Two impressive viaducts remain on the completed part of the line between Royston Junction and Dewsbury as a testament to the Midland's ambition to complete a third direct Anglo–Scottish route. The line served two goods stations and provided a route for occasional express passenger trains before its eventual closure in 1968.

The failure to complete this section ended the Midland's hopes of being a serious competitor on routes to Scotland and finally put beyond all doubt that Leeds, not Bradford, would be the West Riding's principal city. Midland trains to Scotland therefore continued to call at Leeds before travelling along the Aire Valley to the Settle and Carlisle. From Carlisle they then travelled onwards via either the Glasgow and South Western or Waverley Route. In days gone by the line enjoyed named expresses such as the Thames–Clyde Express and The Waverley.

Former stationsEdit

As with most railway lines in Britain, the route used to serve far more stations than it currently does (and consequently passes close to settlements that it no longer serves). Places that the current main line used to serve include Template:Columns-list

  • Midland-main-line-st-albans.jpg

    Looking south along the Midland Main Line at St Albans

  • Ricture 053.jpg

    The Erewash Valley Line, part of the Midland Main Line. Seen here at Stapleford

  • British Rail Class 43 at Chesterfield.jpg

    High Speed Train near Chesterfield

  • Overview of Leeds City railway station 04.jpg

    Leeds railway station, a former key reversal point on the Midland Main Line on the route north

See alsoEdit

Notes and referencesEdit

Notes

Template:Reflist

References

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project Template:Attached KML

Template:Main inter-regional railway lines in Great Britain Template:Railway lines in the East Midlands Template:Railway lines in Yorkshire and the Humber Template:Railway lines in London Template:Current rail infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom

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