West Coast Main Line

West Coast Main Line
The WCML running alongside the M1 at Watford Gap
Overview
Type	Commuter rail, Intercity rail High Speed Rail, Heavy rail
System	National Rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Greater London South East England West Midlands North West England Scotland
Termini	London Euston 51°31′43″N 0°08′07″W / 51.5285°N 0.1353°W / 51.5285; -0.1353 (London terminus) Liverpool Lime Street 53°24′27″N 2°58′42″W / 53.4075°N 2.9784°W / 53.4075; -2.9784 (Liverpool terminus) Manchester Piccadilly 53°28′37″N 2°13′48″W / 53.477°N 2.230°W / 53.477; -2.230 (North West terminus) Edinburgh Waverley 55°57′08″N 3°11′21″W / 55.9521°N 3.1893°W / 55.9521; -3.1893 (Scottish terminus) Glasgow Central 55°51′31″N 4°15′28″W / 55.8585°N 4.2579°W / 55.8585; -4.2579 (Scottish terminus)
Stations	51
Operation
Owner	Network Rail
Operator(s)	Passenger: Abellio ScotRail Arriva Trains Wales Caledonian Sleeper CrossCountry London Midland Northern Southern TransPennine Express Virgin Trains Virgin Trains East Coast Freight: DB Schenker Rail (UK) Direct Rail Services Ltd (DRS) Freightliner Ltd GB Railfreight
Rolling stock	Class 86 Class 87 Class 90 Class 91 Class 92 Class 142 Pacer Class 150 Sprinter Class 153 Class 156 SuperSprinter Class 175 Coradia Class 185 Pennine Class 220 Voyager Class 221 Super Voyager Class 318 Class 319 Class 334 Juniper Class 350 Desiro Class 377 Electrostar Class 380 Desiro Class 390 Pendolino
Technical
Line length	399 mi (642 km)
Number of tracks	Double track, Quadruple track & Sextuple track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Loading gauge	W10
Electrification	Mk1 and UK1 25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE
Operating speed	125 mph (201 km/h) EPS maximum
Route map ()

The West Coast Main Line (WCML) is the most important intercity rail passenger route in the United Kingdom, connecting the major cities of London, Birmingham, Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester. which have a combined metropolitan population of over 24 million people. In addition, several sections of the WCML form part of the suburban railway systems in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, with many more smaller commuter stations, as well as providing links to more rural towns. In 2008 the WCML handled 75 million passenger journeys.

It is one of the busiest freight routes in Europe, carrying 43% of all UK rail freight traffic. The line is the principal rail freight corridor linking the European mainland (via the Channel Tunnel) through London and South East England to the West Midlands, North West England and Scotland. The line has been declared a strategic European route and designated a priority Trans-European Networks (TENS) route.

Much of the line has a maximum speed of 125 mph (201 km/h), meeting the European Union's definition of an upgraded high-speed line, although only Class 390 Pendolinos and Class 221 Super Voyagers with tilting mechanisms operated by Virgin Trains travel at that speed. Other traffic is limited to 110 mph (177 km/h).

The core section between London Euston and Glasgow Central is 399-mile (642 km) long with principal InterCity stations at Milton Keynes Central, Rugby, Stafford, Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle. The length of the core section is nominally quoted as 401.25 miles (645.75 km). This is the distance between the midpoint of Platform 18 of London Euston to that of Platform 1 of Glasgow Central, and historically is the distance used in official calculations during speed record attempts.