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To add to Chris's info, north of Banbury it includes electrification of the route from Leamington through Coventry to Nuneaton, i.e. to the WCML▸ (West Coast Main Line), but not the route via Solihull towards Birmingham. I think this emphasises that it isn't principally concerned with Southampton to Birmingham, but to destinations further north and north-east.
The best 'quick description' is in the DfT» (Department for Transport - about)'s CP5▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) HLOS▸ (High Level Output Specification) which introduced the concept, which emphasises that the whole of the MML» (Midland Main Line. - about) electrification (i.e. north of Bedford), and the East West Rail electrification, are also considered part of the 'spine'. In terms of a national programme I don't really think this latter point has been widely appreciated. Perhaps earlier references to doing the spine after the MML should be re-appraised?
We live in interesting times. Particularly interested in Southampton Port to Basingstoke. Where does that leave Waterloo to Southampton services?The best 'quick description' is in the DfT» (Department for Transport - about)'s CP5▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) HLOS▸ (High Level Output Specification) which introduced the concept, which emphasises that the whole of the MML» (Midland Main Line. - about) electrification (i.e. north of Bedford), and the East West Rail electrification, are also considered part of the 'spine'. In terms of a national programme I don't really think this latter point has been widely appreciated. Perhaps earlier references to doing the spine after the MML should be re-appraised?
Quote
The Electric Spine
34.The Secretary of State wishes the industry to develop and deliver within CP5 the major rail electrification and capability enhancement referred to as the ^Electric Spine^, in order to increase regional and national connectivity and support economic development by creating a high-capability 25kV electrified passenger and freight route from the South Coast via Oxford and the Midlands to South Yorkshire.
35.The routes to be electrified as part of the Electric Spine are:
- Southampton Port ^ Basingstoke (conversion from 750 dc);
- Basingstoke ^ Reading;
- Oxford ^ Leamington ^ Coventry;
- Coventry ^ Nuneaton;
- Oxford ^ Bletchley ^ Bedford (East West Rail core route);
- Bedford ^ Nottingham and Derby, and Derby ^ Sheffield (Midland Main Line); and
- Kettering ^ Corby
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-level-output-specification-2012
34.The Secretary of State wishes the industry to develop and deliver within CP5 the major rail electrification and capability enhancement referred to as the ^Electric Spine^, in order to increase regional and national connectivity and support economic development by creating a high-capability 25kV electrified passenger and freight route from the South Coast via Oxford and the Midlands to South Yorkshire.
35.The routes to be electrified as part of the Electric Spine are:
- Southampton Port ^ Basingstoke (conversion from 750 dc);
- Basingstoke ^ Reading;
- Oxford ^ Leamington ^ Coventry;
- Coventry ^ Nuneaton;
- Oxford ^ Bletchley ^ Bedford (East West Rail core route);
- Bedford ^ Nottingham and Derby, and Derby ^ Sheffield (Midland Main Line); and
- Kettering ^ Corby
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-level-output-specification-2012
