Frustration in Sheffield as rail electrification project paused

Sheffield will remain Britain’s largest city without electrified rail travel after the government “paused” plans to electrify more of the Midland Mainline.

The plans for the northerly section of the route, which runs between Sheffield and London, would be halted as the government focused spending on other transport schemes, the Department for Transport (DfT) said.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said there was “frustration” in the region at the news, adding: “It feels like one step forward and two steps back.”

The DfT said it would “keep the potential for full electrification of the route under review”.

The East Midlands route runs from St Pancras in London to Sheffield, with electrification originally expected to be completed in the early 2030s.

So far it has seen an upgraded and electrified route from London to Corby.

The next stage from Kettering to Wigston was electrified in 2024, and according to Network Rail it should be ready for both electric and diesel trains to run this summer.

Coppard said: “After decades of national underinvestment in our transport network, we’re having to wait longer for vital rail improvements that would create jobs, opportunities and economic growth.

“We were told HS2 would come to Sheffield. That was cancelled.

“Now electrification of Midland Mainline is being paused. All we’re asking for is a fair deal.”

Andrew Dyson, vice chair of the Yorkshire branch of RailFuture, which campaigns for better services, said the news was “incredibly disappointing” as electrification had been “on and off for so many years”.

He said: “They’ve actually got electrification now as far as just south of Leicester, and they’re not going to complete the final 50 miles.

“They say that it’s paused but there is no firm date for it restarting, so in effect it’s almost cancelled.”

Meanwhile, business representative organisation Sheffield Chamber said it was saddened by the decision.

Its president Alexis Krachai said the change of heart did nothing to build business confidence in those running the country.

“Government after government has chopped and changed on this plan, and in many ways it’s short-changed South Yorkshire when it comes to transport improvements”, he said.

The plans also affect passengers using Chesterfield, Derby, Leicester and Nottingham.

The DfT said: “The next phase of electrification of the Midland Mainline has been paused.

“Given the existing trains in use on this stretch of railway and the costs and time needed to electrify the route we are focusing our investment on other schemes.

“We will continue to keep the potential for full electrification of the route under review as part of our plans to decarbonise our railways and as funding becomes available in future.”