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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 5, Issue 4 (August 1, 1930)

Home Railways Electrification Plans

Home Railways Electrification Plans.

Last month mention was made in these pages of the possible early electrification of the King's Cross suburban tracks of the L. and N.E. Railway, London. Details of this important electrification plan reveal a most ambitious scheme for the betterment of communications northwards out of King's Cross. The work includes the electrification of the main lines of the old Great Northern system leading out of London, via Hatfield and Enfield, as far as Welwyn Garden City and Hartford, twenty miles from King's Cross. The suburban branches leading from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace, High Barnet and Edgware will also be electrified. The total length of line covered in the electrification is sixty route miles, equal to 173 miles of single track, and the cost of conversion is about £3,700,000, to which must be added a further £650,000 for tunnel widenings.

The King's Cross electrification plan will be put in hand at an early date, subject to Government assistance being secured. Negotiations are also in hand with other railways, with a view to arrangements being made for through electric trains to be run from the L. and N.E.
In the Garden Lands of Sussex.A Southern Railway London-Hastings Express.

In the Garden Lands of Sussex.
A Southern Railway London-Hastings Express.

page 22 system to Broad Street, to Moorgate Street via the Metropolitan Railway, and to Moorgate from Finsbury Park through the G.N. and City Tube. On these services being arranged, the inhabitants of North London will have, in addition to King's Cross, three terminal stations in the City of London with through electric services. The system of electrification to be adopted is the direct current low voltage arrangement with third rail current collection, the power to be obtained from existing supply companies and taken direct to nineteen sub-stations. The intention is to double the existing train service over the lines affected. At present 1,945,000 train miles per annum are run in the area to be electrified, and on the completion of electrification the train mileage will be increased to 4,000,000 per annum. Some idea of the density of traffic in the area covered may be gathered from the fact that at the present time the L. and N.E. Railway carries 28,000,000 suburban passengers annually through Finsbury Park on their way to or from London. During the peak period 60 percent. of these passengers travel to or from the city proper; 30 per cent. travel to or from King's Cross for the West Central districts; and 10 per cent. travel to the West End.
Modern British Dining Car Equipment. The “Flying Scotsman's” all-electric kitchen.

Modern British Dining Car Equipment.
The “Flying Scotsman's” all-electric kitchen.