Mainline electrification as part of the railway system

This paper identifies the major railway subsystems and how they are affected by an electrification programme. Management activities to ensure the objectives are met will be described for the whole life cycle from the initial intention to electrify through design, installation, commissioning and operating to renewal/decommissioning. The consequences of treating electrification as just an “add on”, rather than an integral part of the railway, will be explored.