The UK national implementation plan for the energy TSI
Updated 31 December 2020
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
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1. Introduction
1.1 This document forms the UK’s national implementation plan for the ‘Technical specification for interoperability for energy (ENE TSI): Commission Regulation 1301/2014’ published on 18 November 2014, which applied from 1 January 2015.
1.2 Article 9 of the TSI states:
Article 9: Implementation
Without prejudice to article 20 of directive 2008/57/EC member states shall prepare a national implementation plan, describing their actions to comply with this TSI, in accordance with section 7 of the annex. Member states shall send their national implementation plan to the other member states and the commission by 31 December 2015. Member states that have already sent their implementation plan do not have to send it again.
1.3 Further information about the content of such plans is set out in section 7 of the TSI annex:
Section 7
Implementation of the energy TSI
Member States shall develop a national plan for the implementation of this TSI, considering the coherence of the entire rail system of the European Union. This plan shall include all new, renewed and upgraded lines, in line with the details mentioned in points 7.1 to 7.4 here below.
7.1. Application of this TSI to railway lines
Sections 4 to 6 and any specific provisions in points 7.2 to 7.3 here below apply in full to the lines within the geographical scope of this TSI, which will be placed in service as interoperable lines after this TSI enters into force.
7.2. Application of this TSI to new, renewed or upgraded railway lines
7.2.1. Introduction
(1) For the purpose of this section, a ‘new line’ means a line that creates a route where none currently exists.
(2) The following situations may be considered as an upgrade or renewal of existing lines:
a) the realignment of part of an existing route
b) the creation of a bypass
c) the addition of one or more tracks on an existing route, regardless of the distance between the original tracks and the additional tracks
(3) in accordance with the conditions laid down in article 20(1) of directive 2008/57/EC, the implementation plan indicates the way existing fixed installations defined in point 2.1 shall be adapted when it is economically justified to do so.
2. New lines
2.1 Where new lines are created in the future, such as the proposed new high speed HS2 line linking London with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, the intention is that the line is built to be fully compliant with the Energy TSI that is applicable at that time, without the need for applying the UK specific cases. However, this intention is subject to further detailed review.
3. Existing Lines
3.1 As most existing electrification in the UK pre-dates the TSIs, these lines are not likely to be compliant with the TSI. The UK’s implementation plan for the upgrade or renewal of existing lines is set out in table 1.
3.2 In this case, electrification work will fall into one of the following categories upgrade or renewal of an existing line that is:
- already electrified
- not electrified
3.3 For the above types of upgrade or renewal work the intention is to move over a period of time towards an energy system that is compliant with the ENE TSI but using UK specific cases where appropriate. A programme of electrification work is planned for control period 5 (April 2014 to March 2019) and provisionally beyond this period as shown in the list of projects below.
3.4 As a result of the CP 5 (and some of the CP 6) programme, it is anticipated that lines associated with the following projects will have been electrified in accordance with this implementation plan.
- Great Western electrification project
- Crossrail (Paddington - Reading)
- North West electrification project
- Midland Mainline, electrification of the line north of Bedford to Kettering and Corby by 2019 (and the line north of Kettering to Leicester, Derby/Nottingham and Sheffield by 2023)
- North Trans Pennine - electrification of the line between Stalybridge and Leeds and on to York and Selby (could be complete by the end of 2022)
3.5 Note: one important caveat with regards to this implementation plan is that as work proceeds there will be a more detailed analysis about restrictions on the route constraining TSI compliance, e.g. gauge, tunnels and bridges. There is also further work being carried out as part of an industry strategy “refresh” which will inform an initial industry plan for the UK in 2016 which, in turn, will inform government decisions on future rail investment in 2017. An update to this implementation plan will be provided when appropriate.
3.6 The intention is to progress with the upgrade and renewal schemes to meet business and strategic needs and when doing so to comply with the in force version of the energy TSI (using UK specific cases where appropriate), unless the project has been notified as being at an advanced stage when a revised version of the energy TSI is published.
3.7 When work is carried out on a part of an existing system, such as the power supply, the possibility of achieving TSI compliance for that part of the subsystem will be considered as set out in the TSI. This is relevant to the following section of the TSI:
7.3.2. Upgrading/renewal of the OCL and/or the power supply
(1) It is possible to gradually modify all or part of the OCL and/or the power supply system — element by element — over an extended period of time to achieve compliance with this TSI.
4. UK specific cases
4.1 The UK has the following specific cases (particular features to deal with the legacy systems) under the energy TSI. They relate to unique features of the UK networks in particular the extensive DC mainline railway, and the constrained gauge envelope of many lines on the UK railway network. These are permanent “P” cases, and it is not envisaged that there will ever be business or economic case for their removal.
7.4.2.9. Particular features on the UK network for Great Britain
7.4.2.9.1. Voltage and frequency (4.2.3) P case
It is permissible to continue to upgrade, renew and extend networks equipped with the electrification system operating at 600/750 V DC and utilising conductor rails in a three and/or four rail configuration in accordance with the national technical rules notified for this purpose. Specific case for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, applying only to the mainline network in Great Britain.
7.4.2.9.2. Contact wire height (4.2.9.1) P case
For new, upgrade or renewal of the energy subsystem on existing infrastructure it is allowed to design the overhead contact line wire height in accordance with the national technical rules notified for this purpose. Specific case for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, applying only to the mainline network in Great Britain.
7.4.2.9.3. Maximum lateral deviation (4.2.9.2) and pantograph gauge (4.2.10) P case
For new, upgrade or renewal of the energy subsystem on existing infrastructure it is allowed to calculate the adjustment to the maximum lateral deviation, the verification heights, and pantograph gauge in accordance with the national technical rules notified for this purpose. Specific case for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, applying only to the mainline network in Great Britain.
7.4.2.9.4. Protective provisions against electric shock (4.2.18) P case
For upgrade or renewal of the existing energy subsystem or the construction of new energy subsystems on existing infrastructure, in place of the reference to EN50122-1:2011+A1:2011 clause 5.2.1, it is allowed to design the protective provisions against electric shock in accordance with the national technical rules notified for this purpose. Specific case for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, applying only to the mainline network in Great Britain. 12.12.2014 L 356/210 Official Journal of the European Union EN
7.4.2.9.5. Conformity assessment of OCL as component P case
The national rules may define the procedure for conformity related to points 7.4.2.9.2 and 7.4.2.9.3 and associated certificates. The procedure may include the conformity assessment of parts which are not subject to a specific case.
4.2 Particular case included because of the unique rail vehicle gauge requirements in the channel tunnel.
7.4.2.10. Particular features on the Eurotunnel network
7.4.2.10.1. Contact wire height (4.2.9.1) P case
For, upgrade or renewal of the existing energy subsystem it is allowed for the overhead contact line wire height to be designed in accordance with the technical rules notified for this purpose.
4.3 The UK has published national technical rules for the AC and DC subsystems and these will be notified. There is no intention to increase the size of the UK’s DC third rail network.
5. UK choice of applicable system
Voltages and frequency
5.1 Section 7.2.2 of the TSI requires the implementation plan to provide information about voltage and frequency:
The choice of power supply system is a member state’s competence. The decision should be taken on economic and technical grounds, taking into account at least the following elements:
a) the existing power supply system in the member state
b) any connection to railway line in neighbouring countries with an existing electrical power supply
c) power demand
New lines with speed greater than 250 km/h shall be supplied with one of the AC systems as defined in point 4.2.3
5.2 For all future new electrification the UK plans to use the 25 kV 50Hz system. The UK operates a number of different subsystem configurations (25 kV AC OCL, 1.5 kV DC OCL and 660/750 V DC conductor rail). There is no specific intent to migrate non-target system configurations to the 25 kV AC OCL configuration but this will be considered on a case by case basis when upgrade or system renewal is required.
OCL geometry
5.3 Section 7.2.3 of the TSI requires the implementation plan to provide information about OCL geometry:
7.2.3.1. Scope of the member states’ implementation plan shall take into account the following elements:
a) closing gaps between different OCL geometries
b) any connection to the existing OCL geometries in neighbouring areas
c) existing certified ICs OCL
5.4 For all future new electrification the UK plans to construct the energy subsystem compatible with a pantograph head profile compliant with EN 50367:2012 figure B.6 (with non-insulated horns) and a pantograph head profile compliant with EN 50367:2012 figure A.6, lateral deviation of the contact wire as set out in the TSI, but utilising the specific case for contact wire height if appropriate.
5.5 For all renewals and upgrade of existing electrification the UK plans to construct the energy subsystem compatible with as a minimum, a pantograph head profile compliant with EN 50367:2012 figure B.6 (with non-insulated horns) and utilising specific cases as appropriate.
5.6 The UK only abuts to other countries networks that operate on the 25kV AC system and utilise 1600 mm pantographs. GB has no certified IC OCL because of the need to implement UK specific cases.
6. Excluded systems
6.1 Under the 2008 interoperability directive it is possible for a member state to exclude certain systems. In the UK these exclusions are contained within the 2011 railways (Interoperability) regulations (SI 2011/3066) and light rail and tram-train (750 V / 1500 V) vehicles and the associated energy sub-systems are excluded from the scope of interoperability directive. An exclusion list has been published by DfT.
Table 1 Projects for: new lines, work on existing electrification and new electrification on existing routes
| UK Network | Is it a new line? (A new line is to create a line where none currently exists.) | Existing electrification | Upgrade, renewal or electrification of existing route that is not yet electrified. | ENE TSI compliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB main line (25kV AC) existing electrification | No | For a map of lines already electrified | Plans for renewals and upgrades subject to further “refresh” work by Network Rail | Predates TSI, and not yet generally compliant. Refer to register of infrastructure |
| GB main line (25kV AC) planned upgrades or renewals | No | No | Plans for renewals and upgrades subject to further “refresh” work by Network Rail | ENE TSI compliant with UK specific cases. Refer to register of infrastructure |
| GB main line (750V DC) | No | Southern England and Merseyside local lines | There is no intention to increase the size of the UK’s DC third rail network. | Predates TSI. Whole system covered by national technical rules. |
| HS1 | No | Already electrified (St Pancras to Channel Tunnel portal) | Not applicable | Compliant with earlier versions of TSI. Refer to register of infrastructure. |
| UK section of Channel Tunnel | No | Already electrified (UK Channel Tunnel portal to international boundary) | Not applicable | Refer to register of infrastructure. |
| Crossrail (core route) | Yes (Core route – Central London section) | Not applicable | Not applicable | Will be compliant with earlier CR ENE TSI using appropriate specific cases. |
| HS2 (indicative partial opening date 2026, completion of the entire network expected in 2033) | Yes (London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.) | Not applicable | Not applicable | Will be compliant with the applicable TSI (it is not anticipated that UK specific cases will need to apply but this is still subject to review) |
| Northern Ireland | No | Not applicable | Not applicable | No plans to electrify. |