Railway electrification in Great Britain began in the late 19th century. A range of voltages has been used, employing both overhead lines and conductor rails. The two most common systems are 25 kV AC
Acton Central station is a changeover point from 750 V DC third rail to 25 kV AC overhead electrification, on the North London Line.
Electric express hauled by a Class 86 on the West Coast Main Line in the 1970s
InterCity 225 on the East Coast Main Line
A Class 800, for use on some of the newly electrified lines, being tested in 2015
The railway system in Great Britain is the oldest railway system in the world. The first locomotive-hauled public railway opened in 1825, which was followed by an era of rapid expansion. Most of the t
Railway electrification in Great Britain
…lines, and the 750 V DC third rail system used in Southeast England and on Merseyrail. As of October 2023, 6,065 kilometres (3,769 mi) (38%) of the British rail network was electrified. According to Network Rail, as at 2003, 64% of the electrified network used the 25 kV AC overhead system, and 36% used the 660/750 V…
Trains at London Paddington in 2021, one of Great Britain's busiest stations
An LNER Class 800 Azuma train on the East Coast Main Line in Northumberland
A GWR Class 800 Intercity Express Train on a service from London Paddington to Swansea
Two TransPennine Express Class 802 Nova 1 units passing through North Yorkshire