Trains from Victoria compared to trains that journey North of London

Question

On a journey to Newcastle yesterday I noticed that the trains have some electric cables above them. I have noticed this before, such as when using trains in West London. However, on journeys out of Victoria and London Bridge, the trains are not attached to cables above them. Why is this? What is the difference?

Answer 1

Further to earlier answers: outside of London and environs, most trains are "not attached to cables above them" because in 2008 they still burn fossil fuel rather than running from electricity, well over 100 years after the first electric trains ran on British railways. That's foresight for you.

Answer 2

The previous answers are correct so far as they go, but they do not go far enough. In fact, electrification south of London  started well before the 1st World War and long before the Southern Railway came into existence. Some lines were electrified on the overhead method, notably on lines operated by the old London, Brighton and South Coast Railway at 1500 v AC. Other railways that were also to become part of the Southern Railway electrified on the 3rd rail method. The railways south of London were electrified earlier than others partly because of competition from electric trams (which were running as far south as Purley) and partly to stop the encroachement of the growing underground network. When the Southern Railway came into existence on grouping in 1926 it wanted to proceed with with more electrification (for much the same reasons) and had to choose between the two systems. The Southern was always a fairly poor company and opted for the cheaper of the two methods, the third rail and converted the existing overhead lines to that system and finally opened the first electrified mainline in the country, the Brighton route.

Other companies also used the 3rd rail system - the London and North Western, later part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway in its Euston - Watforf local lines and in the Manchester area and on the Lancaster - Morecambe service. The North Eastern Railway, later part of the London and North Eastern Railway electrified its Tyneside suburban services on the 3rd rail system and when British Rail decided it would be cheaper not to replace the worn out electification infrastracture, but to use diesel trains the electric stock then in use found its way on to the Southern Region. However, the NER was looking to electrify its mainline between Newcastle and York on the overhead principle in the earluy 1920s and even electrified a coal line between Shildon and Newport docks that way as a trial and built a couple of powerful express locomotives

Nowadays almost all electrification is on the overhead principle as it enabled power to be taken from the National Grid, rather than needing railway owned power stations, although this problem has been overcome in recent years and the large power station at Wimbledon has closed (as has that at Lots Road Chelsea, used by London Undergorund)

The answer which suggests both 3rd rail and overhead runs into Fenchurch Street is, I think wrong, There are no 3rd rail services to that station. Trains provided by First Capital Connect from Brighton and suburban stations use both systems, the change over taking place at Farringdon, whilst the Southern service from Brighton to Watford Junction change at, I believe, Kensington Olympia.

Answer 3

In addition to the other answers, while most of the old third-rail systems north of London have now been replaced - the Manchester - Bury line was converted to 1500V DC in the early 1990s when the Metrolink tram system was built, but the Merseyrail network around Liverpool (Southport - Liverpool - Hunts' Cross, Chester - Liverpool - West Kirby) is still third rail (the Mersey Railway was an early electrification - it was no fun working in the signal box in the middle of the Mersey Tunnel when steam trains were in use!).

Answer 4

Most of the South East area of England was Electrified in the 20's and 30's before British Rail when Southern was running the railways and the 3 rd rail DC was chosen as preferred source of power.  Companies towards the North and Midlands opted for the overhead AC power supply in the 50's Companies to the west country just never electrified the lines there opting for Diesel Units to run along those lines.

There are a number of differences in both types of power grid and effect, pros and cons for each use of course. DC uses a lot less power than AC, but can not cope with output levels, there by restricting size of trains and power, plus there has to be junction boxes every few miles (TP huts and Sub station), but is a less wasteful system and does not fail as often as AC.

Maintenance is easier on DC lines than AC as each gantry must be only so far apart where as the DC line is as long as each section of Transfer.  

DC is far safer for the general public as the possibility of arching is extremely small, but when you have trespass incidents then there is a greater risk of touching a live rail as people do not recognise the rail as being a danger.

Answer 5

Ancient history. The railway used to be in regions before nationalisation. Southern Region preferred the third rail 650V DC system and adopted electric early on, some of it was in place before World War 1. It is almost compatible with the London Underground system and some locomotives can run on both systems.

Much later after nationalisation the electrification projects used the safer (because it is out of reach!) and more efficient 25kV AC overhead wire system. But it was too late for Southern Region which was already electrified under the old system.

Certain stations like Fenchurch have both systems on the same track. The driver has to remember to switch over otherwise the train cuts out as it leaves the station.