Midland Mainline
Encyclopedia
Midland Mainline was a British
train operating company owned by the National Express Group
and based in Derby
. It was created after the privatisation of British Rail
. Midland Mainline services operated from April 1996 to November 2007.
Midland Mainline ran fast and semi-fast passenger services from London to the East Midlands
and Yorkshire
, on the Midland Main Line
. Trains ran from London St Pancras
which it used exclusively. Most services ran between London and either Sheffield
, Derby
, or Nottingham
. Some services extended to Leeds
, York
, Barnsley
and Burton upon Trent
.
at 110 mph along the Midland Main Line
(MML) with frequent stops, meaning the trains were not very fast, and were not very frequent. You could reach most places on the MML faster using the West or East Coast Main Lines by one change of train. All this changed in 1999 when Midland Mainline (TOC) introduced a new timetable and new trains.
Midland Mainline were taken over by National Express group, and ordered a brand new batch of 3-car Class 170 Turbostar local trains to operate stopping services. The frequency of services was doubled overnight, which was a catalyst for the line's passenger numbers to boom. This eventually had its downside in that the turbostar trains were simply not fast enough, and didn't carry enough capacity to deal with passenger growth. A solution was found by 2004, when another new batch of trains was ordered. The Class 222 Meridian
trains were based on the controversial Virgin Cross Country Class 220 Voyager
trains, however were built with the voyager criticisms taken rectified. The trains were built to run at the same speed as the High Speed Trains, and could tackle frequent stopping services with faster acceleration.
On 22 June 2007, the Department for Transport
announced that Midland Mainline had lost the franchise to operate these services from 11 November 2007. Services were transferred to East Midlands Trains
, operated by Stagecoach Group
. Midland Mainline then ceased to operate.
xx00: semi-fast to Derby
, calling at:
with a journey time of 1 hour 56 minutes.
with a journey time of 2 hours 26 minutes.
with a journey time around 3 hours 14 minutes.
with a journey time of 4 hours 46 minutes to Scarborough and 3 hours 56 minutes to York.
This service was operated by a four or five car Class 222 Meridian
.
xx25: fast to Sheffield, generally calling just at:
with a journey time around 2 hours 21 minutes.
with a journey time of 3 hours 17 minutes
with a journey time of 2 hours 14 minutes from Leicester
This service was generally operated by a Class 43 High Speed Train
, although a few diagrams use an eight car Class 222 Meridian
xx30: semi-fast to Nottingham, calling at:
with a journey time of 1 hour 56 minutes.
This service was operated by a four or five car Class 222 Meridian
xx55: fast to Nottingham, generally calling at:
with a journey time of 1 hour 41 minutes.
This service was generally operated by an eight car Class 222 Meridian
although sometimes a diagram uses a Class 43 High Speed Train
,
and Leeds, with three early morning departures from Leeds and four evening return trips from St Pancras. This is principally because the main maintenance depot for the Midland Mainline HST power car
s was the Maintrain depot at Neville Hill in Leeds. The service did not compare favourably with the principal service from London to Leeds
along the East Coast Main Line
operated by GNER. The Midland Main Line
has a much slower line speed. The journey time on the Midland route is around 3 hours 17 minutes.
Midland Mainline had plans for a regular service between London St Pancras and Leeds via Nottingham, the Erewash Valley
, Sheffield and Barnsley but these were rejected by the Strategic Rail Authority
.
Through trains between London St Pancras and Matlock
were stopped when Class 222 Meridian
units were introduced as they are not allowed on the Derwent Valley Line
branch line, unlike the Class 170 Turbostar which previously operated the route.
A small number of trains operated between London St Pancras and Sheffield via Nottingham and along the Erewash Valley to Chesterfield serving Langley Mill
and Alfreton
. There were also a small number of through trains between St Pancras and Burton upon Trent
, Belper
, and Barnsley.
Midland Mainline operated summer weekend services between London and Scarborough
on Saturdays providing the only through service between the capital and the North Yorkshire
coast, and York
on Sundays. There was also a Saturday service from London to York at 06:20 and arriving at 10:16. It formed the first service of the day out of St Pancras. The return trip was at 17:49 and arriving at London at 21:52. The service goes via Doncaster
as opposed to Leeds. On Sunday, the service to York runs from Leicester
rather than London, with the return service being via the Erewash Valley to Nottingham, where it reverses to call at all MML stations (except Loughborough and Luton Airport Parkway) to London.
and Manchester Piccadilly
whilst the West Coast Main Line
between Manchester and Euston
underwent engineering work. This service was known as Project Rio, named after the footballer Rio Ferdinand
who had made a record transfer to from Leeds United to Manchester United Football Club
. The units used on Project Rio were intended for use on services from Leeds and instead were used to Manchester - hence the connection.
The service used the Midland Main Line
as far as Trent Junction, before taking the Erewash Valley Line
(avoiding Derby) to Clay Cross
, rejoining the Midland Main Line until Dore South Curve, which linked trains onto the Hope Valley Line
towards Manchester
. It ran from May 2003 and finished in September 2004. Former Virgin Cross-Country
Class 43 High Speed Train
sets were used and were quickly painted into Midland Mainline livery. South of Leicester the service ran in the path of the XX:30 semi-fast Nottingham train, with an additional Leicester to Nottingham service introduced using the displaced Turbostars.
The service was run at the request of, and underwritten by, the SRA for a period of 1 year. While perhaps popular with a niche market, the total number of passengers per train frequently fell below a dozen between Leicester and Stockport. The considered success (or failure) of Project Rio is perhaps down to the existing Virgin London service still remaining considerably faster than the Hope Valley route, even taking into account the diversions during the engineering works. The low line speed on the Hope Valley, plus the fact that the trains called at all station south of Leicester was a big factor in the increased journey time. There were also often reliability issues with the ex-Virgin HST sets, leading to delays or cancellations, although it was found that that when running well the HSTs could easily maintain the Turbostar times south of Leicester due to superior acceleration of the 2+7 sets.
Midland Mainline had the following named units / locos.
Midland Mainline re-configured the Meridian units from the end of 2006 to the start of 2007, reducing the nine-car sets to eight-car sets and increasing seven of the four-car sets to five-car sets to better provide for seating demand.
Also, until they were replaced by class 222 meridians, MML provided 3-car class 170 turbostars to run on local routes. They were cascaded to Central Trains
when the 222s were introduced.
London St Pancras
, Wellingborough
, Kettering
, Market Harborough
, Leicester
, Derby
, Chesterfield
and Sheffield.
Luton Airport Parkway
, Luton
, Bedford Midland, Loughborough
, Long Eaton
, Willington
, Burton upon Trent
, Beeston
, Nottingham, Langley Mill
, Alfreton
, Dronfield
, Meadowhall
, Barnsley, Doncaster
, Wakefield Westgate
, Leeds, York
, Scarborough
.
Duffield
, Ambergate
, Whatstandwell
, Cromford
, Matlock Bath
, Matlock
, Stockport
, Manchester Piccadilly
.
The Midland Mainline franchise continued to operate until November 2007 before becoming part of the East Midlands franchise which includes former Central Trains
services in the East Midlands.
On the 22 June 2007, the Department for Transport announced that Stagecoach had won the franchise.
As National Express, the company that ran Midland Mainline, lost the franchise bid, on the 11 November 2007 all services transferred to East Midlands Trains
and Midland Mainline ceased to exist.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
train operating company owned by the National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
and based in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. It was created after the privatisation of British Rail
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
. Midland Mainline services operated from April 1996 to November 2007.
Midland Mainline ran fast and semi-fast passenger services from London to the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
and Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, on the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
. Trains ran from London St Pancras
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
which it used exclusively. Most services ran between London and either Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, or Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. Some services extended to Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
and Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
.
History
Intercity Midland Mainline were probably the forgotten operator in the 1990s. They operated Class 43 High Speed TrainBritish Rail Class 43 (HST)
The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982....
at 110 mph along the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
(MML) with frequent stops, meaning the trains were not very fast, and were not very frequent. You could reach most places on the MML faster using the West or East Coast Main Lines by one change of train. All this changed in 1999 when Midland Mainline (TOC) introduced a new timetable and new trains.
Midland Mainline were taken over by National Express group, and ordered a brand new batch of 3-car Class 170 Turbostar local trains to operate stopping services. The frequency of services was doubled overnight, which was a catalyst for the line's passenger numbers to boom. This eventually had its downside in that the turbostar trains were simply not fast enough, and didn't carry enough capacity to deal with passenger growth. A solution was found by 2004, when another new batch of trains was ordered. The Class 222 Meridian
British Rail Class 222
The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation....
trains were based on the controversial Virgin Cross Country Class 220 Voyager
British Rail Class 220
The Class 220 Voyager are a class of diesel-electric high-speed multiple-unit trains built by Bombardier Transportation in 2000 and 2001....
trains, however were built with the voyager criticisms taken rectified. The trains were built to run at the same speed as the High Speed Trains, and could tackle frequent stopping services with faster acceleration.
On 22 June 2007, the Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
announced that Midland Mainline had lost the franchise to operate these services from 11 November 2007. Services were transferred to East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains is a British passenger train operating company. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, and between the East Midlands and London...
, operated by Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
. Midland Mainline then ceased to operate.
Service patterns
The off peak service pattern, upon conclusion of the franchise in November 2007, consisted of four departures per hour from St Pancras. There were two 'fast' and two 'semi-fast' trains per hour. The hourly pattern from St Pancras was as below:xx00: semi-fast to Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, calling at:
- Luton Airport Parkway
- Bedford
- WellingboroughWellingborough railway stationWellingborough railway station is located the market town of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, it is from London St. Pancras...
- KetteringKettering railway stationKettering railway station is to the south-west of the Kettering town centre in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, north of London St...
- Market HarboroughMarket Harborough railway stationMarket Harborough railway station serves the town of Market Harborough in Leicestershire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, 16 miles south-east of Leicester and is served by the fast and semi-fast East Midlands Trains Class 222 "Meridian"/HST services...
- LeicesterLeicester railway stationLeicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:...
- LoughboroughLoughborough railway stationLoughborough railway station serves the town of Loughborough in Leicestershire, England. Situated on the Midland Main Line, 20 km north of Leicester, the station lies to the north-east of the town centre....
- Long EatonLong Eaton railway stationLong Eaton railway station serves the town of Long Eaton in Derbyshire, in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Midland Main Line and the Derby - Nottingham line south east of Derby...
- Derby
with a journey time of 1 hour 56 minutes.
- Extension to Burton upon TrentBurton upon Trent railway stationBurton-on-Trent railway station serves the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. It was known as simply Burton until 1903 when it became Burton-on-Trent, by which it has been known for many years, in spite of the town's charter of 1878 which was for "Burton upon Trent"...
calling at:- WillingtonWillington railway stationWillington railway station serves the village of Willington in Derbyshire, England. The station is 10 km south west of on the Derby to Birmingham New Street line....
- Burton upon TrentBurton upon Trent railway stationBurton-on-Trent railway station serves the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. It was known as simply Burton until 1903 when it became Burton-on-Trent, by which it has been known for many years, in spite of the town's charter of 1878 which was for "Burton upon Trent"...
- Willington
with a journey time of 2 hours 26 minutes.
- Extension to Barnsley, generally calling at:
- BelperBelper railway stationBelper railway station is a railway station serving the town of Belper in Derbyshire. The station is located on the Midland Main Line from Derby to Leeds.-Description:...
- ChesterfieldChesterfield railway stationEntrance to the station is on Crow Lane and includes a car park, taxi rank and bus stop. There is also a small car park on the other side of Crow Lane which does not have a parking charge. The main entrance leads to the station concourse, which is very spacious and was built in the late 1990s. It...
- DronfieldDronfieldDronfield is a town in North East Derbyshire in the North Midlands region of England. It comprises the three communities of Dronfield, Dronfield Woodhouse and Coal Aston. It is sited in the valley of the small River Drone, and lies between the town of Chesterfield and the city of Sheffield. The...
occasional service - Sheffield
- MeadowhallMeadowhall InterchangeMeadowhall Interchange to the north of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England is a railway station on the Midland Main Line, a Sheffield Supertram stop, and bus station. It is close to junction 34 on the M1, and serves Meadowhall Shopping Centre...
- Barnsley
- Belper
with a journey time around 3 hours 14 minutes.
- Extension to ScarboroughScarborough railway stationScarborough railway station serves the seaside town of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England. It lies east of York and is one of the eastern termini on the North TransPennine route operated by First TransPennine Express...
(Saturdays). This service called at Scarborough during part of the summer timetable only, all other times this service terminated at YorkYork railway stationYork railway station is a main-line railway station in the city of York, England. It lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London's King's Cross station towards Edinburgh's Waverley Station...
. This service called at:- ChesterfieldChesterfield railway stationEntrance to the station is on Crow Lane and includes a car park, taxi rank and bus stop. There is also a small car park on the other side of Crow Lane which does not have a parking charge. The main entrance leads to the station concourse, which is very spacious and was built in the late 1990s. It...
- Sheffield
- MeadowhallMeadowhall InterchangeMeadowhall Interchange to the north of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England is a railway station on the Midland Main Line, a Sheffield Supertram stop, and bus station. It is close to junction 34 on the M1, and serves Meadowhall Shopping Centre...
- DoncasterDoncaster railway stationDoncaster railway station serves the town of Doncaster, in South Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the East Coast Main Line north of London Kings Cross, and is about five minutes walk from Doncaster town centre. The station is managed by East Coast...
- YorkYork railway stationYork railway station is a main-line railway station in the city of York, England. It lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London's King's Cross station towards Edinburgh's Waverley Station...
- ScarboroughScarborough railway stationScarborough railway station serves the seaside town of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England. It lies east of York and is one of the eastern termini on the North TransPennine route operated by First TransPennine Express...
- Chesterfield
with a journey time of 4 hours 46 minutes to Scarborough and 3 hours 56 minutes to York.
This service was operated by a four or five car Class 222 Meridian
British Rail Class 222
The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation....
.
xx25: fast to Sheffield, generally calling just at:
- LeicesterLeicester railway stationLeicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:...
- Derby
- ChesterfieldChesterfield railway stationEntrance to the station is on Crow Lane and includes a car park, taxi rank and bus stop. There is also a small car park on the other side of Crow Lane which does not have a parking charge. The main entrance leads to the station concourse, which is very spacious and was built in the late 1990s. It...
- Sheffield
with a journey time around 2 hours 21 minutes.
- This train forms the limited (see below) extension to LeedsLeedsLeeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
generally calling at:- DoncasterDoncaster railway stationDoncaster railway station serves the town of Doncaster, in South Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the East Coast Main Line north of London Kings Cross, and is about five minutes walk from Doncaster town centre. The station is managed by East Coast...
- WakefieldWakefield Westgate railway stationWakefield Westgate railway station is the mainline railway station for the city of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. It is located on the western edge of the main city centre, on the opposite side from Wakefield's other station, Kirkgate.-Services:...
- Leeds
- Doncaster
with a journey time of 3 hours 17 minutes
- Extension to YorkYork railway stationYork railway station is a main-line railway station in the city of York, England. It lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London's King's Cross station towards Edinburgh's Waverley Station...
(Sundays) calling at:- DoncasterDoncaster railway stationDoncaster railway station serves the town of Doncaster, in South Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the East Coast Main Line north of London Kings Cross, and is about five minutes walk from Doncaster town centre. The station is managed by East Coast...
- YorkYork railway stationYork railway station is a main-line railway station in the city of York, England. It lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London's King's Cross station towards Edinburgh's Waverley Station...
- Doncaster
with a journey time of 2 hours 14 minutes from Leicester
Leicester railway station
Leicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:...
This service was generally operated by a Class 43 High Speed Train
British Rail Class 43 (HST)
The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982....
, although a few diagrams use an eight car Class 222 Meridian
British Rail Class 222
The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation....
xx30: semi-fast to Nottingham, calling at:
- LutonLuton railway stationLuton railway station is located in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The station is near to the town centre, about three minutes' walk from the Arndale Shopping Centre. It is situated on the Midland Main Line and is operated by First Capital Connect.-History:...
- Bedford
- WellingboroughWellingborough railway stationWellingborough railway station is located the market town of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, it is from London St. Pancras...
- KetteringKettering railway stationKettering railway station is to the south-west of the Kettering town centre in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, north of London St...
- Market HarboroughMarket Harborough railway stationMarket Harborough railway station serves the town of Market Harborough in Leicestershire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, 16 miles south-east of Leicester and is served by the fast and semi-fast East Midlands Trains Class 222 "Meridian"/HST services...
- LeicesterLeicester railway stationLeicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:...
- LoughboroughLoughborough railway stationLoughborough railway station serves the town of Loughborough in Leicestershire, England. Situated on the Midland Main Line, 20 km north of Leicester, the station lies to the north-east of the town centre....
- BeestonBeeston railway stationBeeston railway station is a railway station on the Midland Main Line which serves the town of Beeston in Nottinghamshire, England. It lies south west of Nottingham railway station...
- Nottingham
with a journey time of 1 hour 56 minutes.
This service was operated by a four or five car Class 222 Meridian
British Rail Class 222
The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation....
xx55: fast to Nottingham, generally calling at:
- LeicesterLeicester railway stationLeicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:...
- LoughboroughLoughborough railway stationLoughborough railway station serves the town of Loughborough in Leicestershire, England. Situated on the Midland Main Line, 20 km north of Leicester, the station lies to the north-east of the town centre....
(every hour or two). - Nottingham
with a journey time of 1 hour 41 minutes.
This service was generally operated by an eight car Class 222 Meridian
British Rail Class 222
The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation....
although sometimes a diagram uses a Class 43 High Speed Train
British Rail Class 43 (HST)
The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982....
,
- All Midland Mainline services (except The Master Cutler morning 'up' service) called at LeicesterLeicester railway stationLeicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:...
with the fastest journey time to and from London of 1 hour 9 minutes.
- The services between London, Luton and Bedford supplemented the high frequency ThameslinkThameslinkThameslink is a fifty-station main-line route in the British railway system running north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than...
now known as First Capital ConnectFirst Capital ConnectFirst Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
commuter service. The Midland Main LineMidland Main LineThe Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
between London and Bedford is electrified.
Limited Services
Midland Mainline operated a limited service between London St PancrasSt Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
and Leeds, with three early morning departures from Leeds and four evening return trips from St Pancras. This is principally because the main maintenance depot for the Midland Mainline HST power car
Power car
A power car is a railroad vehicle that is closely related to the locomotive. What differentiates the two is their construction or their use. A true locomotive can be physically separated from its train and does nothing but provide propulsion . A power car, on the other hand, is frequently an...
s was the Maintrain depot at Neville Hill in Leeds. The service did not compare favourably with the principal service from London to Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
along the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
operated by GNER. The Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
has a much slower line speed. The journey time on the Midland route is around 3 hours 17 minutes.
Midland Mainline had plans for a regular service between London St Pancras and Leeds via Nottingham, the Erewash Valley
Erewash Valley
The Erewash Valley is the valley of the River Erewash on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire as far as the River Trent. It runs along the boundary of the southern end of the Derbyshire hills and the more rolling Nottinghamshire country...
, Sheffield and Barnsley but these were rejected by the Strategic Rail Authority
Strategic Rail Authority
In existence from 2001 to 2006, the Strategic Rail Authority was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom set up under the Transport Act 2000 to provide strategic direction for the railway industry....
.
Through trains between London St Pancras and Matlock
Matlock railway station
Matlock Railway Station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains. It is located in the Derbyshire town of Matlock in Derbyshire, England. The station is now currently the terminus of both the Derwent Valley Line from Derby and Peak Rail who operate heritage...
were stopped when Class 222 Meridian
British Rail Class 222
The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation....
units were introduced as they are not allowed on the Derwent Valley Line
Derwent Valley Line
The Derwent Valley Line is a railway line from Derby to Matlock in Derbyshire.The line follows the Midland Main Line as far as Ambergate Junction, which is just south of Ambergate railway station, continuing to Matlock, following the course of the River Derwent.*Derby*Duffield**Former branch line...
branch line, unlike the Class 170 Turbostar which previously operated the route.
A small number of trains operated between London St Pancras and Sheffield via Nottingham and along the Erewash Valley to Chesterfield serving Langley Mill
Langley Mill railway station
Langley Mill railway station on the Erewash Valley Line serves the village of Langley Mill and the towns of Heanor in Derbyshire and Eastwood in Nottinghamshire, England...
and Alfreton
Alfreton railway station
Alfreton railway station serves the town of Alfreton in Derbyshire, England. The station is on the Erewash Valley Line 29 km north of Nottingham....
. There were also a small number of through trains between St Pancras and Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent railway station
Burton-on-Trent railway station serves the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. It was known as simply Burton until 1903 when it became Burton-on-Trent, by which it has been known for many years, in spite of the town's charter of 1878 which was for "Burton upon Trent"...
, Belper
Belper railway station
Belper railway station is a railway station serving the town of Belper in Derbyshire. The station is located on the Midland Main Line from Derby to Leeds.-Description:...
, and Barnsley.
Midland Mainline operated summer weekend services between London and Scarborough
Scarborough railway station
Scarborough railway station serves the seaside town of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England. It lies east of York and is one of the eastern termini on the North TransPennine route operated by First TransPennine Express...
on Saturdays providing the only through service between the capital and the North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
coast, and York
York railway station
York railway station is a main-line railway station in the city of York, England. It lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London's King's Cross station towards Edinburgh's Waverley Station...
on Sundays. There was also a Saturday service from London to York at 06:20 and arriving at 10:16. It formed the first service of the day out of St Pancras. The return trip was at 17:49 and arriving at London at 21:52. The service goes via Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
as opposed to Leeds. On Sunday, the service to York runs from Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
rather than London, with the return service being via the Erewash Valley to Nottingham, where it reverses to call at all MML stations (except Loughborough and Luton Airport Parkway) to London.
Project Rio
During 2003/4, Midland Mainline operated a temporary service between London St PancrasSt Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
and Manchester Piccadilly
Manchester Piccadilly station
Manchester Piccadilly is the principal railway station in Manchester, England. It serves intercity routes to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, South Wales, the south coast of England, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central, and routes throughout northern England...
whilst the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
between Manchester and Euston
Euston railway station
Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line...
underwent engineering work. This service was known as Project Rio, named after the footballer Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...
who had made a record transfer to from Leeds United to Manchester United Football Club
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. The units used on Project Rio were intended for use on services from Leeds and instead were used to Manchester - hence the connection.
The service used the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
as far as Trent Junction, before taking the Erewash Valley Line
Erewash Valley Line
The Erewash Valley Line is a railway line in Britain running from south of Chesterfield along the Erewash Valley to Trent Junction at Long Eaton, joining the Midland Main Line at each end.- History :...
(avoiding Derby) to Clay Cross
Clay Cross
Clay Cross is a former mining town and civil parish in the North East Derbyshire district of Derbyshire, England, about six miles south of Chesterfield. It is directly on the A61, the former Roman road Ryknield Street...
, rejoining the Midland Main Line until Dore South Curve, which linked trains onto the Hope Valley Line
Hope Valley Line
The Hope Valley Line is a railway line in England linking Sheffield with Manchester. It was completed in 1894.From Sheffield, trains head down the Midland Main Line to Dore, where the Hope Valley Line branches off to run through the Totley Tunnel .It emerges in the stunning scenery of the Hope...
towards Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. It ran from May 2003 and finished in September 2004. Former Virgin Cross-Country
Virgin Cross-Country
Virgin CrossCountry was a train operating company in Great Britain, part of Virgin Trains, from January 1997 until 11 November 2007. The company's operations were former InterCity services centred on Birmingham New Street, operating across the country .-History:The franchise was the first of two...
Class 43 High Speed Train
British Rail Class 43 (HST)
The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982....
sets were used and were quickly painted into Midland Mainline livery. South of Leicester the service ran in the path of the XX:30 semi-fast Nottingham train, with an additional Leicester to Nottingham service introduced using the displaced Turbostars.
The service was run at the request of, and underwritten by, the SRA for a period of 1 year. While perhaps popular with a niche market, the total number of passengers per train frequently fell below a dozen between Leicester and Stockport. The considered success (or failure) of Project Rio is perhaps down to the existing Virgin London service still remaining considerably faster than the Hope Valley route, even taking into account the diversions during the engineering works. The low line speed on the Hope Valley, plus the fact that the trains called at all station south of Leicester was a big factor in the increased journey time. There were also often reliability issues with the ex-Virgin HST sets, leading to delays or cancellations, although it was found that that when running well the HSTs could easily maintain the Turbostar times south of Leicester due to superior acceleration of the 2+7 sets.
Named Trains
- The Robin Hood on the 06:30 Sheffield to St. Pancras via Nottingham, and returning as the 17:00 St. Pancras to Nottingham.
- The Master Cutler on the 06:14 Leeds to St Pancras which runs non stop from Chesterfield, and 16:55 St. Pancras to Leeds return.
- The Midlands Express on the 07:05 Sheffield to St. Pancras.
Performance
Categorised as a long distance operator Midland Mainline compared favourably to other operators in its category. The last performance figures for Midland Mainline published by the Office of Rail Regulation were a Public Performance Measure of 92.9% for the third quarter of the financial year 2007/8 and a Monthly Annual Average of 92.4%. Midland Mainline was also awarded Passenger Operator of the Year 2006.Onboard service
Midland Mainline trains boasted a buffet car, known as the "MM bar", which served hot and cold food and drinks. Midland Mainline was the only operator to offer complimentary free tea and coffee to all passengers, including those in standard class. In 2007, the company announced that it would be serving Fairtrade tea and coffee on its trains. 4.5 million cups were served to passengers each year.Rolling stock
Midland Mainline's fleet consisted of the following trains at the time they ceased service.Fleet
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Quantity | Unit numbers | Routes operated | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | |||||||
| Class 43 High Speed Train British Rail Class 43 (HST) The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982.... |
 |
Diesel locomotive Diesel locomotive A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel... |
125 | 200 | 31 | 43007 / 43043 - 43050 / 43052 / 43054 - 43055 / 43058 - 43061 / 43064 / 43066 / 43072 - 43076 / 43081 - 43083 / 43085 / 43104 / 43166 / 43178 / 43184 | Midland Main Line Midland Main Line The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St... |
1976–1982 |
| Class 222 Meridian British Rail Class 222 The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation.... |
diesel electric multiple unit | 125 | 200 | 23 | 222001 - 222023 | Midland Main Line Midland Main Line The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St... |
2003-2005 | |
| Mark 3 coach British Rail Mark 3 British Rail's third design of standard carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train... |
 |
Passenger carriage | 125 | 200 | Midland Main Line Midland Main Line The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St... |
1975–1988 | ||
Previous Fleet
| Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Quantity | Unit numbers | Routes operated | Built | Withdrawn From MML services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||||||
| Class 170 Turbostar |  |
diesel multiple unit Diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:... |
100 | 160 | 17 | 170101-170117 | Midland Main Line Midland Main Line The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St... |
1999 | 2004 |
Midland Mainline had the following named units / locos.
| HST names | |
|---|---|
| 43049 | Neville Hill |
| 43055 | Sheffield Star |
| 43069 | Rio Enterprise |
| 43072 | Derby Etches Park |
| Meridian names | |
|---|---|
| 222004 | City of Sheffield |
| 222005 | City of Nottingham |
| 222006 | City of Leicester |
| 222007 | City of Derby |
Midland Mainline re-configured the Meridian units from the end of 2006 to the start of 2007, reducing the nine-car sets to eight-car sets and increasing seven of the four-car sets to five-car sets to better provide for seating demand.
Also, until they were replaced by class 222 meridians, MML provided 3-car class 170 turbostars to run on local routes. They were cascaded to Central Trains
Central Trains
Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:...
when the 222s were introduced.
Stations
- Midland Mainline operated at twenty seven stations, of which it managed eight:
London St Pancras
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
, Wellingborough
Wellingborough railway station
Wellingborough railway station is located the market town of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, it is from London St. Pancras...
, Kettering
Kettering railway station
Kettering railway station is to the south-west of the Kettering town centre in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, north of London St...
, Market Harborough
Market Harborough railway station
Market Harborough railway station serves the town of Market Harborough in Leicestershire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, 16 miles south-east of Leicester and is served by the fast and semi-fast East Midlands Trains Class 222 "Meridian"/HST services...
, Leicester
Leicester railway station
Leicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:...
, Derby
Derby Midland railway station
Derby railway station , also known as Derby Midland Station, is a main line railway station serving the city of Derby in England. Owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains, the station is also used by CrossCountry services and one Northern Rail service...
, Chesterfield
Chesterfield railway station
Entrance to the station is on Crow Lane and includes a car park, taxi rank and bus stop. There is also a small car park on the other side of Crow Lane which does not have a parking charge. The main entrance leads to the station concourse, which is very spacious and was built in the late 1990s. It...
and Sheffield.
- Other stations served included:
Luton Airport Parkway
Luton Airport Parkway railway station
| Luton Airport Parkway railway station is the railway station for London Luton Airport in Bedfordshire, England. The station opened in 1999 and is located south-east of Luton and west of the airport....
, Luton
Luton railway station
Luton railway station is located in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The station is near to the town centre, about three minutes' walk from the Arndale Shopping Centre. It is situated on the Midland Main Line and is operated by First Capital Connect.-History:...
, Bedford Midland, Loughborough
Loughborough railway station
Loughborough railway station serves the town of Loughborough in Leicestershire, England. Situated on the Midland Main Line, 20 km north of Leicester, the station lies to the north-east of the town centre....
, Long Eaton
Long Eaton railway station
Long Eaton railway station serves the town of Long Eaton in Derbyshire, in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Midland Main Line and the Derby - Nottingham line south east of Derby...
, Willington
Willington railway station
Willington railway station serves the village of Willington in Derbyshire, England. The station is 10 km south west of on the Derby to Birmingham New Street line....
, Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent railway station
Burton-on-Trent railway station serves the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. It was known as simply Burton until 1903 when it became Burton-on-Trent, by which it has been known for many years, in spite of the town's charter of 1878 which was for "Burton upon Trent"...
, Beeston
Beeston railway station
Beeston railway station is a railway station on the Midland Main Line which serves the town of Beeston in Nottinghamshire, England. It lies south west of Nottingham railway station...
, Nottingham, Langley Mill
Langley Mill railway station
Langley Mill railway station on the Erewash Valley Line serves the village of Langley Mill and the towns of Heanor in Derbyshire and Eastwood in Nottinghamshire, England...
, Alfreton
Alfreton railway station
Alfreton railway station serves the town of Alfreton in Derbyshire, England. The station is on the Erewash Valley Line 29 km north of Nottingham....
, Dronfield
Dronfield railway station
Dronfield railway station serves the town of Dronfield in Derbyshire, England , south of Sheffield, on the Midland Main Line between Chesterfield and Sheffield....
, Meadowhall
Meadowhall Interchange
Meadowhall Interchange to the north of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England is a railway station on the Midland Main Line, a Sheffield Supertram stop, and bus station. It is close to junction 34 on the M1, and serves Meadowhall Shopping Centre...
, Barnsley, Doncaster
Doncaster railway station
Doncaster railway station serves the town of Doncaster, in South Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the East Coast Main Line north of London Kings Cross, and is about five minutes walk from Doncaster town centre. The station is managed by East Coast...
, Wakefield Westgate
Wakefield Westgate railway station
Wakefield Westgate railway station is the mainline railway station for the city of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. It is located on the western edge of the main city centre, on the opposite side from Wakefield's other station, Kirkgate.-Services:...
, Leeds, York
York railway station
York railway station is a main-line railway station in the city of York, England. It lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London's King's Cross station towards Edinburgh's Waverley Station...
, Scarborough
Scarborough railway station
Scarborough railway station serves the seaside town of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England. It lies east of York and is one of the eastern termini on the North TransPennine route operated by First TransPennine Express...
.
- Stations which used to be served but then had their Midland Mainline services stop before the franchise ended:
Duffield
Duffield railway station
Duffield railway station is a railway station serving the village of Duffield in Derbyshire, England. The station is located on the Midland Main Line from Derby to Leeds...
, Ambergate
Ambergate railway station
Ambergate railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains Train operating company . It serves the village of Ambergate in Derbyshire...
, Whatstandwell
Whatstandwell railway station
Whatstandwell railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains Train operating company . It serves the villages of Whatstandwell and Crich Carr in Derbyshire, England...
, Cromford
Cromford railway station
Cromford railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains Train operating company . It is located in the village of Cromford in Derbyshire, England...
, Matlock Bath
Matlock Bath railway station
Matlock Bath railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains Train operating company . It is located in the village of Matlock Bath in Derbyshire, England...
, Matlock
Matlock railway station
Matlock Railway Station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains. It is located in the Derbyshire town of Matlock in Derbyshire, England. The station is now currently the terminus of both the Derwent Valley Line from Derby and Peak Rail who operate heritage...
, Stockport
Stockport railway station
Stockport railway station is in Greater Manchester, England, 8 miles south-east of Manchester Piccadilly station on the West Coast Main Line from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. It was opened on 15 February 1843 by the Manchester and Birmingham Railway, following completion of the large...
, Manchester Piccadilly
Manchester Piccadilly station
Manchester Piccadilly is the principal railway station in Manchester, England. It serves intercity routes to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, South Wales, the south coast of England, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central, and routes throughout northern England...
.
The end
Central Trains
Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:...
services in the East Midlands.
On the 22 June 2007, the Department for Transport announced that Stagecoach had won the franchise.
As National Express, the company that ran Midland Mainline, lost the franchise bid, on the 11 November 2007 all services transferred to East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains is a British passenger train operating company. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, and between the East Midlands and London...
and Midland Mainline ceased to exist.