Editing Network Rail (section)

===Electrification schemes===
During March 2011, the British government announced that the [[Great Western Main Line]] would be electrified as far as Bristol Temple Meads.<ref>{{Cite web |date = 1 March 2011 |title = Great Western electrification and IEP to go ahead |url = https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2011/03/01-great-western-electrification-and-iep.html |access-date = 1 July 2020 |website = Railnews |archive-date = 16 July 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210716084207/https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2011/03/01-great-western-electrification-and-iep.html |url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Network Rail |date=June 2011 |title=Modernising the Great Western |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/uploadedFiles/networkrailcouk/Contents/Improvements/The_Great_Western/WesternVision.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413065743/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/uploadedFiles/networkrailcouk/Contents/Improvements/The_Great_Western/WesternVision.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2013 |page=9}}</ref> Within four years, this programme, which was headed by Network Rail, was beset by poor planning and cost overruns, leading to the shortcomings being scrutinised by Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/public-accounts-committee/news-parliament-2015/network-rail-investment-programme-report-published-15-16 |title = Rail users will pay price for failure in investment planning |date = 20 November 2015 |access-date = 24 March 2017 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161130184447/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/public-accounts-committee/news-parliament-2015/network-rail-investment-programme-report-published-15-16/ |archive-date = 30 November 2016 |df = dmy-all}}</ref> Specifically, the projected cost had increased from £1.2 billion to £2.8 billion by the end of 2015,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.langportleveller.co.uk/2017/03/03/great-western-disaster |title = Great Western Disaster |date = 3 March 2017 |access-date = 24 March 2017 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170325201750/http://www.langportleveller.co.uk/2017/03/03/great-western-disaster/ |archive-date = 25 March 2017 |df = dmy-all}}</ref> while the project's timetable was also delayed to the extent that the government had to request [[Hitachi Rail|Hitachi]] to retrofit the new high speed trainsets procured under the [[Intercity Express Programme]] with diesel engines as well as electric traction.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/electrification-dubbed-shambles-multi-billion-10287160 |title = Electrification dubbed 'shambles' as multi-billion pound electric trains may also have diesel engines because tracks won't be ready |date = 19 October 2015 |access-date = 24 March 2017 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170901153340/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/electrification-dubbed-shambles-multi-billion-10287160 |archive-date = 1 September 2017 |df = dmy-all}}</ref> In July 2017, the government announced that, in response to the programme's continued difficulties, the scope of the electrification scheme had been decreased; specifically, it would only be completed as far as Thingley Junction, {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} west of Chippenham, while the electrification of other lines, including Bristol Parkway to Temple Meads and Didcot to Oxford, was also postponed.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/20/grayling-sparks-fury-by-scrapping-rail-electrification-plans |title = Grayling sparks fury by scrapping rail electrification plans |last = Topham |first = Gwyn |date = 20 July 2017 |work = The Guardian |access-date = 23 December 2017 |issn = 0261-3077 |archive-date = 16 July 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210716084149/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/20/grayling-sparks-fury-by-scrapping-rail-electrification-plans |url-status = live}}</ref>

During 2011, work commenced to extend the electrification of the [[Midland Main Line]], including to both Corby and Nottingham.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/electrification-to-reach-market-harborough/48150.article|title=Electrification to reach Market Harborough}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Spades in ground as government delivers on rail investment promise for North and Midlands|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/spades-in-ground-as-government-delivers-on-rail-investment-promise-for-north-and-midlands|access-date=21 December 2021|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=21 December 2021|title=Main works on next stage of Midland Main Line electrification due to begin|url=https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/main-works-on-next-stage-of-midland-main-line-electrification-due-to-begin/|access-date=21 December 2021|website=RailBusinessDaily|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rail industry welcomes progress on Midland Mainline electrification|url=https://www.riagb.org.uk/RIA/Newsroom/Press_Releases/Progress_on_MML_electrification.aspx|access-date=21 December 2021|website=www.riagb.org.uk}}</ref> In July 2017, it was announced the then-Secretary of State for Transport [[Chris Grayling]] that the electrification scheme north of Kettering to Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield had been cancelled and that bi-mode trains would be used instead.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Butcher|first=Louise|date=22 February 2021|title=Rail electrification|url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05907/|language=en-GB|journal=|access-date=22 February 2021|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506031746/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05907/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=20 July 2017|title=Rail electrification plans scrapped by government|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-40669869|access-date=24 February 2021|archive-date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401201112/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-40669869|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in May 2022, a briefing to contractors was released ahead of an invitation to tender for Midland Mainline Electrification project work to extend electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield. This scheme is expected to cost £1.3&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/contractors-alerted-to-next-phase-of-1-3bn-midland-main-line-electrification-24-05-2022/|title=Contractors alerted to next phase of £1.3bn Midland Main Line electrification |date=24 May 2022 }}</ref>

[[File:Blackfriars Railway Bridge from Tate Modern.jpg|thumb|Blackfriars Railway Bridge with photo-voltaic roof panels]]
Network Rail has undertaken numerous schemes to develop its own renewable electrical generation footprint, which is used in part to power the operational railway. In January 2014, Network Rail opened the world's largest [[Solar power|solar-powered]] bridge, adjacent to the remains of the old [[Blackfriars Railway Bridge]], across the [[River Thames]]. The roof of the new railway bridge is covered with 4,400 [[Photovoltaics|photovoltaic]] panels, providing up to half of the energy requirement for [[Blackfriars station|London Blackfriars station]].<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/22/worlds-largest-solar-powered-bridge-opens-in-london |title = World's largest solar-powered bridge opens in London |date = 22 January 2014 |work = [[The Guardian]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170202125427/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/22/worlds-largest-solar-powered-bridge-opens-in-london |archive-date = 2 February 2017 |url-status = live}}</ref> Solar panels are used at various locations across Network Rail's property portfolio, including stations and depots.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.solarsense-uk.com/casestudies/scarborough-rail-depot/ |title = Casestudy: Scarborough Rail Depot |date = 6 March 2020 |publisher = solarsense-uk.com |access-date = 8 December 2022}}</ref> In August 2022, an agreement between the company and [[Électricité de France|EDF]] was signed to provide more solar energy.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://tandlonline.com/rail/network-rail-signs-solar-panel-agreement-with-edf-renewables-38398 |title = Network Rail Signs Solar Panel Agreement with EDF Renewables |publisher = tandlonline.com |date = 11 August 2022}}</ref>