Old Dalby Test Track

The Old Dalby test track (known simply as Old Dalby) is an ex. British Rail Research Division line that runs between Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, England and Edwalton south of Nottingham. It was originally part of the Midland Railway's line from Kettering to Nottingham and was closed in 1968. It was then converted into a test track for the APT-E project and re-opened in 1972. It saw extensive use in the heyday of the BR Research Department and was used for pantograph development and OHLE testing amongst many other tests. In the recent past it was leased by Alstom Transport who electrified the line with 25kV OHLE to test and commission the Virgin Trains Class 390 "Pendolino" trains.

After being abandoned when Alstom withdrew from the UK train-building market, the line was threatened with closure but now has been leased by Metronet in order to test and commission the next generation of London Underground trains, known as Sub Surface Lines (SSL) trains, which is expected to begin early in 2009.

The additional line re-instated between Old Dalby and Widmerpool has now been equipped with third and fourth rails in addition to the 25kV OHLE on the main test line.Serco Assurance have been awarded the contract to manage the whole of the test track of behalf of Metronet, which will give them the opportunity to attract other interested parties to the line.

For a comprehensive history of the test track (and the Mickleover test track too) see this site http://www.old-dalby.com