Old Dalby Test Track - Twenty-first Century

Twenty-first Century

In 2001 the test track was leased by Alstom Transport who electrified the former Down line at 25kV AC OHLE to test and commission the Class 390 "Pendolino" trains for introduction by Virgin Trains on the West Coast Main Line.

When Alstom withdrew from the United Kingdom train-building market, the line was threatened with closure before being leased to Metronet in 2007 in order to test and commission the next generation of London Underground S Stock trains. To facilitate this, the former Up line, which was re-instated by Alstom during their upgrade between Old Dalby and Widmerpool, was equipped with approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) of London Underground-style conductor rails from Old Dalby to a point near to Folley Hall Bridge. Testing of the 'S' stock began at the end of March 2009. The former Down line retains its 25kV OHLE.

Serco has been awarded the contract to manage the whole of the test track on behalf of Metronet, giving them the opportunity to attract other interested parties to the line.

As of April 2010, the test track was being used by Class 172 diesel multiple units in addition to the London Underground S Stock, both of these being manufactured by Bombardier in Derby. Network Rail also use the facilities for their measurement trains and on July 30 the NMT visited the line.