Network Rail: East Coast Main Line power supply upgrade 

Infrastructure improvements to support faster, more frequent rail services 

On the East Coast Main Line, the old diesel fleet of trains has been replaced with a larger fleet of longer, cleaner, greener new electric trains – to provide faster and more frequent services for passengers. These new fleets include Hitachi Azuma trains from LNER and Paragon trains operated by Hull Trains.

The growing number of electric trains on the line requires a significant boost to power supplies along the route. Network Rail is engaged in a process of installing innovative new static frequency converters (SFCs) to deliver the necessary power in the most cost-efficient way. These are the world’s largest and first 50hz SFCs, which sit separately from the railway and integrate into existing networks, removing the need for disruptive and expensive pylon and underground cable installation. SFCs take the local electricity supply and optimise it to provide the ideal power supply for trains, without disturbing the local power network.  

The major East Coast Main Line power supply upgrade programme is being delivered by a group of leading design, consultancy, engineering and construction specialists. Together, these companies form the Rail Electrification Alliance (REAL), which includes SYSTRA, Network Rail, VolkerRail, Siemens, J Murphy and Sons, and Jacobs. 

SYSTRA role: from site surveys to electrical, civil and architectural design 

Work to enable the power supply upgrade is required at more than 50 sites along the East Coast mainline route between London and Edinburgh. Phase 1 was started in 2014, with Phase 2 getting underway in 2021. 

As part of the Rail Electrification Alliance, SYSTRA has multiple responsibilities. These include designing feeder station compounds, lineside cabling and civils design, geotechnical and environmental assessments, overhead line equipment (OLE) amendment designs, low voltage (LV) arrangement design, site surveys, project and commercial management, document control and information management

At each location, our teams carry out topographical and LIDAR surveys to accurately map the site. Using this data, we produce layout plans and cross-sections, including foundations, troughing, drainage, access roads and earthworks. Our environmental services team undertake ecological surveys and provide biodiversity impact assessments for each site. 

The electrification team also produce layouts and cross sections for electrification equipment, as well as staging and isolation diagrams. Our electrical designs include the removal of boosters and the conversion of the OLE system to aerial earth wire.

Our architects and structures team have designed bespoke static frequency converter buildings for this project, comprising a steel-framed structure with composite panel cladding and roofing. 

The great extent of the route naturally introduced a great number of stakeholders. Key among them were various local authorities. The delivery teams were fortunate to uncover some interesting archaeology and worked closely with local councils to manage it’s excavation, as well as assisting with publicly displaying the finds in a local museum, to further the social value of the project.  

Alliance delivery model supports collaboration on optimal solutions 

To minimise costs and maximise efficiency during design and construction, we adopted a standardised approach to the design of feeder station compounds, using common themes and materials. This allowed construction teams to repeat processes on many sites, providing efficiency and safety benefits, while enabling common materials to be purchased in bulk at reduced rates.

We worked closely with Jacobs via an alliance delivery model that supported collaboration between design teams. This model involves sharing responsibility, with both parties interacting to create coordinated designs. Regular design meetings and in-person collaboration enable both parties to bring issues to the table and work through them together, resulting in optimal design solutions. Furthermore, the Alliance delivery model facilitated excellent collaboration between design and construction teams. Maintaining presence in co-located project office allowed our teams to identify, work and resolve issues very efficiently, with real-time input from the right teams.   

The Alliance delivery model also allowed the project to deliver it’s scope effectively, with efficient allocation of work to those best placed to deliver it. Working under the ‘all win or all lose’ principle also allowed teams to work collaboratively and effectively when challenges do arise.  

The success of this design alliance relies on both parties adopting an open-book mentality to share issues and solutions without judgement. This collaborative approach, combining expertise from alliance partners, played a key role in bringing static frequency converter technology to the UK mainline railway for the first time. 

Pioneering electrification technology brings efficiency, sustainability and reliability 

Phase 1 of the project saw power supply upgrades completed at 23 substations along the route between London and Doncaster, with 600km of new cabling laid and new foundations and structures installed to support overhead line equipment. Further upgrades to increase resilience and reliability included track-based cabinets and feeder stations.  

Phase 2 is well underway, delivering upgrades between Doncaster and Edinburgh, including 22 new traction substations, 1,000km of new feeder and telecoms cabling, and the introduction of two new static frequency converter compounds.  

By replacing life-expired electrification equipment with innovative new electrification technology, the project is building future resilience along one of Britain’s busiest intercity routes. The pioneering use of SFC technology provides a more efficient long-term solution for distributing electricity to the railway in the UK.  

For passengers, the power supply upgrade brings faster, more reliable and more frequent train services, with fewer maintenance disruptions, using a fleet of modern trains.