West Coast Route Modernization

The West Coast Main Line is one of the grandest achievements of the Industrial Age. When it was built in the 1830s to link London with Birmingham, it was the only long distance railway on Earth. It evolved into the busiest mixed-use rail corridor in the UK, stretching from London to Edinburgh.

In 1998, the British government embarked on a modernization program to reduce journey times on the line and add capacity for more travelers. It was daunting job involving 640 kilometers of track—much of it incapable of carrying  high-speed rail cars. Some sections were seriously dilapidated, and new trains would require a complete overhaul of signaling, power supply, and switching systems.

When Bechtel entered the picture in February 2002, the project was experiencing severe difficulties. Bechtel restructured the project and the new plan called for tilting trains running at up to 200 kilometers per hour.

In September 2004, Pendolino tilting trains began service between London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Tilting trains can operate at high speeds on the curviest sections of track because their cars lean into turns, sort of like a motorcycle rider gliding around a corner. The technology ensures passenger safety and comfort without slowdowns.

Major work on the project was completed in December 2008. Capacity on the West Coast Main Line was increased by 60,000 seats per day, with more than 1,000 new train services per week.

The modernization also reduced travel times along the lines significantly, cutting 43 minutes off the trip between London and Manchester, and nearly an hour off the journey between London and Glasgow.