Electrification of a main line
The electrification programme of the London Midland Region of British Railways is being followed by railway engineers throughout the world, much of the interest being centred on the problems involved and the methods adopted for their solution. The southward approach to Euston is again emphasised by the extension of electric working from Stafford to Nuneaton.
Electrification of the former London & North Western main line between London, Manchester and Liverpool, and Birmingham, not only is necessitating the reconstruction of some stations and alterations to the track layout, but advantage is being taken during the heavy civil engineering work involved to improve and modernise wherever possible existing stations and track layout. The stations which have been rebuilt, or are now in course of rebuilding, are Euston, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Macclesfield, Stafford, Coventry, Tamworth, and Northampton.
At other stations alteration, rather than rebuilding, is being undertaken, as at Liverpool Lime Street, Crewe, Wolverhampton, Rugby, Lichfield, Nuneaton, Bletchley, and many other places.
The rebuilding of Manchester Piccadilly – formerly London Road – station was commenced in 1958 and continued until 1961, when work was temporarily suspended. Final approval to the plans has now been given by the British Railways Board, and subject to acceptance by the Manchester City Council, work is scheduled to recommence in October 1964, for completion in October 1965, in time for the introduction
