Electrification is the process of improving the infrastructure of the railway to allow for electric trains to run on the track, rather than trains that use fuel. It’s a process that takes time and a lot of planning, and as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, the railway between Manchester and York, via Leeds and Huddersfield, is due to be electrified.
Electric trains are better for the environment than diesel trains, and they’re quieter for both those on board the train and those living close to the railway. We’re making it possible for electric trains to travel on more areas of the rail network by electrifying railway lines that only diesel trains can run on at the moment.
In order to electrify the railway, we need to install overhead line equipment (OLE) to run the wires that will carry the electricity that powers the electric trains, and before we do that, we need to install OLE foundations. This is done through a process called piling.
Piling involves driving the piles deep into the ground. This is usually done at night-time on weekdays and weekends. We’re aware of the inconvenience that piling can cause our lineside neighbours and do everything we can to minimise disruption.
Once this is complete and the foundations are installed, we begin to erect trackside posts and overhead wires.
For safety reasons, work of this type must be carried out while trains are not running. Under our licence conditions we are contractually obliged to work at times that cause the least disruption to train services.
Depending on ground conditions, an average pile takes between 20 and 60 minutes and is often complete on a single occasion. Once complete, work will then progress to another location.
A number of our lineside neighbours have asked us for more information about electromagnetic field emissions produced by the electrification of the line, and whether they will have a negative effect on their property or health.
The overhead power lines being installed along the railway will carry 25,000 volts of electricity to power our new greener trains and like all electrical systems produce electromagnetic emissions. Most of the overhead power lines outside the railway that you will have seen, or cables in pavements and roads, are a similar or much greater voltage than this. For example, National Grid operate overhead power lines at up to 400, 000 volts and cables in pavements and roads are typically up to 33,000 volts.
In terms of electromagnetic fields produced by the railway and its effect on you, your property or equipment, we are legally required to keep our emissions within levels set by British Standards, for example BS EN 50121.
When we design and test our system we check to make sure these levels are not exceeded. We also go through an independent safety assessment before we can turn our system on.
Typically these standards require us to investigate where levels reach certain values (which are still not dangerous) and only occur when very close (within 1m) to the overhead power lines, which are out of reach in any case.
Generally, this means that anyone more than 1m from a power line themselves is highly unlikely to be exposed to unacceptable levels of emissions.
These standards, our risk assessments, design, testing and independent safety assessment processes ensure that the levels of electromagnetic emissions from the railway remain safe for everyone.
You can find out more about the electrification of the railway, and how the matters of safety and OLE maintenance are managed, on the Network Rail website.
