Electrification is the foundation of all modern railways and fundamental to decarbonisation. Through delivering faster, smoother, quieter and more reliable train services, rail electrification reduces industry fuel cost by 45%, rolling- stock costs by 33%, and track maintenance costs by 10-20% (compared to diesel operation). Electric railways are the most efficient, lowest carbon form of transportation in the UK.

Network Rail operates the largest power distribution network in the UK, and is the largest consumer of electricity in the UK, consuming 4TWh electricity per year. Power is provided from the electricity supply industry, a mix of gas, nuclear, coal and renewables, emitting approximately 944,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Connecting new renewable generation directly to the railway reinforces the railway power supply, while reducing coal and gas use in the UK and is a longstanding Network Rail industry challenge statement. To date, engineering incompatibilities between renewable, electricity supply systems and the railway single-phase electrical and other railway systems have prevented local renewable connection in rail.

In a world first, Siemens Mobility, working with British Solar Renewables, DB Cargo UK, Network Rail, ECML operators, and the University of York, will directly connect large-scale renewable generation to the East Coast Mainline. The demonstrator phase will deliver up to 1GWh green electricity direct to trains each year, reducing UK gas imports by 151,000 cubic metres and carbon emissions by 236 tonnes annually. It will gather vital data creating a new green industry, creating a precedent and setting standards to enable larger scale roll-out across the UK.