Could Electric Trains Run Between St. Pancras International and Sheffield Stations With No More Electrification?
A reader suggested, that I look at this, so here goes!
- A couple of weeks ago, I took a Class 222 diesel train back from Sheffield to St. Pancras International and it seemed a few minutes quicker.
- Looking at the timetable today, at least one service on the route is now just under two hours and some others are just over.
So the new Class 810 trains may not be fully in service yet, but the trains have already had an effect on the timetable.
How Far North Is The Midland Main Line Being Electrified?
I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.
As of early 2026, the Midland Main Line (MML) is electrified as far north as Wigston, just south of Leicester.
- Northern Limit: The section from Kettering up to Wigston South Junction was energised in July 2024, representing the current northern limit of 25kV overhead line equipment (OLE).
- Pause in Further Electrification: Following a UK government spending review, the further, planned northward extension of electrification to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, and Sheffield was indefinitely paused in July 2025.
- Current Operations: While electrification has stopped at Wigston, the line is served by new bi-mode (electro-diesel) trains, allowing for electric running from London St Pancras to Wigston before switching to diesel power.
- Previous Work: The line is also fully electrified from London St Pancras to Bedford, including the route to Corby.
Note.
- South Wigston Junction and Sheffield are 69.4 miles apart.
- The Hitachi trains can raise and lower pantographs on the move.
Distances without wires from London St. Pancras International to various destinations are as follows.
- Sheffield – 69.4 miles
- Leicester – 3.7 miles
- Derby – 36.4 miles
- Nottingham – 31.1 miles
As trains will have to go out and back to these destinations distances travelled will be doubled.
- Sheffield – 138.8 miles
- Leicester – 7.4 miles
- Derby – 72.8 miles
- Nottingham – 62.2 miles
It looks to me, that if the new Class 810 trains, can travel 138.8 miles on batteries and diesel engines as a tri-mode train, then the Midland Main Line is electrified.
Could The Sheffield Services Turn Round At Doncaster And Charge Their Batteries There?
Note.
- South Wigston Junction and Doncaster are 79.5 miles apart.
- Doncaster is a fully-electrified station.
- Sheffield and Doncaster would get two extra connecting trains per hour.
- The two services could also call at Meadowhall and/or Rotherham Central.
The Class 810 trains could charge their batteries, whilst passengers to and from Doncaster left and entered the trains.
Could A Simple Cross-Platform Change Be Arranged Between East Coast And Midland Main Line Services?
Doncaster station has two long island platforms, one of which is generally used for Northbound services and one for Southbound services.
Note.
- All electrified tracks are shown in red.
- The two wide island platforms, with Northbound on the West side and Southbound on the East side.
- Each island platform has an electrified platform face on both sides.
- The four platforms faces on the island platforms can hold pairs of five-car Hitachi trains.
- There are two through tracks or avoiding lines between the two island platforms for trains that aren’t stopping.
- There are bay platforms at the ends of the station for local trains.
- The station is fully step-free with a wide pedestrian underpass.
I know the station well and it looks to me, that East Midland Railway’s five-car services for St. Pancras could charge up in the Southern ends of the four faces of the island platforms and the two South-facing bay platforms.
I also believe that a pair of five-car Class 810 trains could be handled and charged, should it become necessary.
It looks to me, that the engineers updating the East Coast Main Line, know that they were caught out badly by High Speed Two, so the redesign for the next fifty or a hundred years will be completely future-proofed.
Doncaster and London could almost be considered to be twin main lines, with two pairs of high speed lines taking different routes, that serve different towns and cities.
How Many Travellers Go Between East Scotland And The North-East of England And The English Midlands?
It must be quite a few, as in the new East Coast Main Line timetable, more Scottish services stop at places like Doncaster and Newark.
But surely, if you could go between say Perth or Aberdeen and Derby or Nottingham in two battery-electric trains, with a relaxed change at Doncaster, you’d take it?
I certainly would!
East Coast And Midland Main Lines Compared
These are times between London and Doncaster.
- Current times between Doncaster and London are typically between 1 hour and 31-40 minutes going via the East Coast Main Line.
- I estimate times between Doncaster and London will be typically 2 hours and 22-27 minutes going via the Midland Main Line.
Note.
- Doncaster and London King’s Cross is 156 miles
- Doncaster and London St. Pancras International is 183.3 miles
- So the Midland Main Line route would appear to to be about 45 minutes slower.
- I suspect, that for passengers between between London and North of York, it will always be quicker to use an East Coast Main Line service.
These are times between London and Sheffield.
- Current times between Sheffield and London are typically between 2 hours and 4-9 minutes going via the Midland Main Line.
- I estimate times between Sheffield and London will be typically between 2 hours and 2 minutes going via the East Coast Main Line.
Note.
- Sheffield and London King’s Cross is via Retford.
- Sheffield and London King’s Cross is 162.1 miles
- Sheffield and London St. Pancras International is 183.3 miles
- Sheffield and Retford is 23.5 miles
- So the Midland Main Line route would appear to to be a few minutes slower.
I would feel that there is scope that under Great British Railways to optimise services between London and Doncaster and Sheffield.
The Master Cutler
The Master Cutler is a named train, that is described in this Wikipedia entry, that was introduced in 1947.
- Over its life it has run into both King’s Cross and St. Pancras.
- I can remember the train in the 1950s, running into King’s Cross.
- It has also been run to and from Leeds.
- It has been run as a Pullman service.
- There are reports of overcrowding in recent years.
It strikes me that the Master Cutler could do with a revamp.
- As St. Pancras can accept pairs of five-car Class 810 trains, ten-car trains could be run into King’s Cross or St. Pancras.
- An alternative would be to use a nine-car Hitachi Class 800/801 train.
- All trains would be battery electric.
- All trains would use the East Coast Main Line for a faster service.
- Services could terminate in the North at Leeds.
- The service could be run as a Pullman service.
- This article on Ian Visits, writes about East Coast Main Line trains using St. Pancras.
I would create a train service, that would attract passengers from all over the world.
Who knows?
If it was conceived in the right way, it might warrant a second service or similar service on other lines like these possibilities.
London and Blackpool via Crewe, Wigan and Preston.
- London and Aberystwyth via Birmingham and Shrewsbury.
- London and Bristol via Bath
- London and Fishguard via Cardiff and Swansea
- London and Holyhead via Birmingham and Chester
- London and Liverpool
- London and Manchester
- London and Newcastle via York and Durham
- London and Norwich via Colchester and Ipswich
- London and Plymouth via Exeter
Note.
- All routes could be run using electric or battery-electric trains.
- The Fishguard and Holyhead services would be zero-carbon routes to Ireland, connecting to appropriate zero-carbon ferries.
- Could services be arranged so that all parts of the country have at least one service in both directions every day?
- In the days of British Rail, London and Norwich had a very high-class service, that could serve a full English breakfast between Colchester and London, which certainly wasn’t like the regular joke.
Get the offering right and it could level-up the UK.
FEV And Daimler Buses Create Hydrogen Coach Demonstrator
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Automotive World.
This is the sub-heading.
Daimler Buses and engineering firm FEV have developed a hydrogen fuel cell-powered Setra coach, marking the first hydrogen demonstrator vehicle in the coach segment for the Daimler Truck subsidiary. The H₂ Coach technology demonstrator, which was handed over to Daimler Buses in summer 2025 following approximately two years of development and approval by German technical inspection authority TÜV, offers a range of at least 800 kilometres per tank filling and is intended for testing purposes.
The article also has a picture, which shows.
- A typical modern coach design with three axles.
- Setra H2 Coach branding.
- A Slogan of “Travelling Towards a Sustainable Future”
It looks very similar to images of Wrightbus’s three-axle Contour design. But that would mean, they could fit similar infrastructure.
But when I asked Google AI, when the Wrightbus three-axle hydrogen coach would enter passenger service, I received this answer.
Wrightbus’s three-axle hydrogen fuel cell electric coach is planned for launch in 2026. The company, which is developing the vehicle in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, has confirmed the project is aimed at decarbonising long-distance travel, with a projected range of up to 1,000 km.
It would appear that Wrightbus are ahead on range and timescale.
Is There A Plan To Increase The Capacity Of the Elizabeth Line?
On Sunday, when I came back from West Ealing station to Moorgate station on Sunday after taking the pictures, that I used in West Ealing Station – 1st February 2026, I was at the wrong end of the train for getting out at Moorgate.
So I had to walk from one end to the other of one of the most crowded Elizabeth Line trains, I’ve ever been on.
If it was as crowded as that on a Sunday morning, then it would appear, that the capacity of the line needs to be increased.
So I asked Google AI, the title of this post and received this reply.
Yes, there is a firm plan to increase the capacity of the Elizabeth line, driven by high demand and to support the future opening of the HS2 station at Old Oak Common. Transport for London is producing 10 new Class 345 trains to boost service, with expected delivery in 2026-2028.
But is 2026-2028 going to be early enough?
University Of Alberta Partners With City of Edmonton And Diesel Tech Industries To Pilot Hydrogen-Diesel Bus Retrofits
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Pulse 2.0.
These two paragraphs introduce what is a comprehensive practical approach to decarbonising a fleet of diesel buses.
The University of Alberta is partnering with the City of Edmonton and Diesel Tech Industries to cut carbon emissions from Edmonton’s fleet of diesel-powered buses by integrating hydrogen fuel into existing combustion engines.
The initiative focuses on developing a practical retrofit approach to help transit agencies and other vehicle operators reduce emissions quickly without waiting for full fleet replacement. Project leaders say that if the pilot succeeds, the work could translate into a deployable solution for operators across Canada seeking near-term carbon reductions while maintaining current diesel assets.
Note.
- The City of Edmonton has around a thousand buses.
- Many of Edmonton’s buses have Cummins engines.
- Cummins are decarbonising the company and have developed hydrogen-conversions for some of their diesel engines.
- I am sure that this technique could be used to convert London’s thousand new Routemaster buses, with their Cummins engines.
This project seems to have a lot of possibilities to get very much larger.
West Ealing Station – 1st February 2026
Because of the confusion of WordPress yesterday, I had to go back to West Ealing station to take more pictures today.
These are the pictures that I took.
These are some of my thoughts.
The High-Density Transport-Hub Cluster
This seems to be coming on with several blocks now visible and the Waitrose site to be developed.
There also seems to be some useful shops, which include a pleasant Italian cafe on the North side of the rail lines.
The Fast-Charge System Contacts
Note.
- These are shown in Pictures 16-17!
- There are two contacts, which are in yellow for safety reasons.
- I wonder how many can be installed?
- Is it one per battery and one battery per car?
I suspect by duplicating cables and putting them underneath and between the tracks, the Fast-Charge system could handle a train like a Class 800 train.
Will Other High-Density Transport-Hub Clusters Be Developed Along The Elizabeth Line?
This is one for the nimbys, planners, politicians and residents, but I don’t see why some councils will try.
The Ultimate Recycled Electric Local Train
This morning, I took a ride across London to ride in the first Class 230 train in public service in London.
I took these pictures of the new block of flats going up at West Ealing station, the charging system for the train and the train.
Note.
- The train is three-cars with a toilet to suit everybody, except possibly Donald Trump, who’d want it in gold.
- The single train is shuttling between West Ealing and Greenford stations.
- Each journey 2.5 mile journey takes eleven minutes.
I was surprised at the number of tables and the quality of the seats.
These are some extra thoughts.
The Blocks Of Flats
Google AI gave me this.
Several new developments around West Ealing station feature tall blocks, with major proposals ranging from 4 to 26 storeys. Key projects include a 26-storey tower, proposed 19–22 storey towers on Manor Road/Waitrose site, and 7–21 storey student accommodation blocks. These, along with other 9-storey developments, are transforming the area into a high-density “transport hub” cluster.
I think the 26-storey West 55 Tower is shown in the first two pictures.
Google AI also says some of the natives are not happy about all the towers.
But I like the “high density” transport hub.
Integrating The Railway And The Housing
Note.
- This would appear to be a good example of integrating the railway and the housing.
- The second picture appears to show a walkway between the station and Tower 55.
- I met a property developer on a train once and he told me, that housing on top of stations without car parking, had better numbers all round, with more flats, less cost and good profit.
- I wonder, if Tower 55, is one of his? He was certainly enthusiastic about the concept.
- Would a Fast-Charge system be easier and very much safer to squeeze in than traditional overhead wiring?
If the flats all don’t have garages, there must be space for other uses.
The Charger At Work
Note.
- The third to the sixth pictures, show the train coming into the station and charging ready for a trip to Greenford.
- The train acts as a heavy safety guard during the process.
- Anything electrical or dangerous is underneath the train.
I would expect that a health and safety expert, would rate the train no more dangerous than a normal train.
There Seems To Have Been A Lot Of Innovative Recycling On The Train
This certainly seems to apply to the seats, which in some cases are the originals remodeled.
A Stylish And Well-Built Train
This phrase would sum up my overall view of the train.
I have a Korean son-in-law and I know a bit, how Koreans think about design.
I would think, that he would like this as it is a stylish and practical train, so it wouldn’t embarrass you or your Korean boss, if you told him to use this train in the UK, to get to your offices.
Using my Korean example, I suspect, that this train could be one that endears itself to its passengers, with its quirky and practical feel, just like the original Mini did.
Adrian Shooter Would Be Pleased
Most Certainly!
I wish all the team well, as I believe this technology and a few trains like 230001 will make their mark on the world.
A Practical Hundred Mile Battery-Electric Route
The Sheffield and Scunthorpe Line is a Parliamentary Service.
- It is 71.6 miles over 1 hour and 48 minutes, through seven stations of the Lincolnshire countryside, at an average speed of 40 mph.
- Currently, it runs once per day, which is not very ideal for a job, education, training, shopping or visiting grandchildren.
- A two-car version of 230001 could be ideal to perhaps do four round or five trips a day and level-up some of the poorer parts of the UK, that don’t even have a decent bus service.
- A similar two-car train could also serve the 45-mile round-trip Cleethorpes and Barton-on-Humber service.
I am sure that this train could start the right sort of rural or urban revolution.
Treasures Found On HS2 Route Stored In Secret Warehouse
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Treasures unearthed by hundreds of archaeologists during the ongoing construction of the controversial HS2 train line have been shown exclusively to the BBC.
These three paragraphs add detail to the story.
The 450,000 objects, which are being held in a secret warehouse, include a possible Roman gladiator’s tag, a hand axe that may be more than 40,000 years old and 19th Century gold dentures.
It is an “unprecedented” amount and array of items, which will yield new insights into Britain’s past, says the Centre for British Archaeology.
Major building developments in the UK need land to be assessed by archaeologists as part of the planning process, to protect heritage sites.
Crossrail also collected a lot of artefacts in an archaeology programme, that I wrote about in Bison to Bedlam or How To Make Friends.
Typing “TransPennine Route Archaeology” into Google AI gave this answer.
AI Overview
Archaeological investigations for the Trans-Pennine upgrades are split into two major, parallel projects: the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine road project and the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) rail project. Both have revealed significant historical, archaeological, and industrial remains.
A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Upgrade (Road)
As part of the A66 upgrade between Penrith and Scotch Corner, Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (OCA) is conducting extensive excavations.
Key Finds: Archaeologists have identified prehistoric settlements, Neolithic stone axes, and evidence of a 60-meter-wide posthole structure.
Roman Discovery: A major Roman vicus (settlement) and the original Roman road have been uncovered, revealing a “grid of Roman field systems and ditches” near Brough.
Locations: Key sites include Brougham, Brough, Kirkby Thore, and Crackenthorpe.
Significance: These findings illustrate the area’s long-distance connection, trade, and culture from prehistoric through Roman times.
Transpennine Route Upgrade (Rail)
This project, involving Network Rail and ASWYAS (Archaeological Services WYAS), is upgrading the railway between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York.
172-Year-Old Railway Siding: A mid-19th-century railway siding was uncovered at Hillhouse Sidings in Huddersfield, revealing two turntables and brick-built engine sheds.
Roman Settlement (Ravensthorpe): Excavations at Ravensthorpe (for a new station) uncovered a large, hexagonal-shaped feature thought to be an Iron Age or Roman-British enclosure, featuring ceramics, glass, and animal bones.
Mirfield Viaduct: An investigation of the Grade II-listed Mirfield Viaduct (built 1836-1839) was conducted to record its structure before upgrade works.It could be a very large exhibition in the North, if High Speed Two and the two Transpennine Route Upgrades were combined in a single exhibition.
I asked Google AI, what is the largest exhibition centre in Yorkshire and received this answer.
The largest exhibition sites in Yorkshire are concentrated in Harrogate, anchored by the Great Yorkshire Event Centre and the Harrogate Convention Centre. These venues offer a combined total of over 10,000 square meters of exhibition space, accommodating major national events, conferences, and large-scale outdoor exhibitions.
I suspect Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield could have other ideas.
Observations On A Trip To Doncaster And Sheffield
My objectives were.
- Buy a walk-up ticket from a machine at King’s Cross for Doncaster station and then use it.
- Use local trains, tram-trains and trams to get to as quick as possible to Sheffield station.
- Buy a walk-up ticket from a machine at Sheffield station for St. Pancras and then use it.
This is the story of my day.
A Ticket From King’s Cross for Doncaster
This happened at King’s Cross
- I got charged £38.65, but I didn’t get any tickets.
- So I complained in the Booking Office.
- But they didn’t believe me.
- Then I showed them the debit on my credit card account.
- Then a lady came and checked the machine, but couldn’t find any tickets.
- They then issued me with a new ticket for Doncaster.
- But they were these design crimes of flimsy tickets.
- I now have two debits on my credit card account.
They said one will be refunded.
King’s Cross To Doncaster
I took these pictures of the trucks along the nearby A1 to the North of Newark.
This map shows how the A1 curves round the town.
Note.
- The A1 Road curving around the right of the town.
- The red arrow marking Newark Northgate station.
- There is a notorious flat crossing, that needs to be replaced to the North of the station.
I believe as a Control Engineer, that digital signalling might solve the problem of the crossing and I wrote about it in Could ERTMS And ETCS Solve The Newark Crossing Problem?.
But there was no problems on the journey
- The train was ten coaches.
- It was going to Edinburgh.
- It left on time.
- It didn’t appear to be very full.
- It was four minutes late at Doncaster and arrived at 14:47.
These pictures show Doncaster station.
Note.
There are nine platforms and eleven tracks.
The nine platforms are arranged in three island platforms.
The Anonymous Widower 