Enhancing Rail Resilience: Reading Independent Feeder Now Operational

Enhancing Rail Resilience: Reading Independent Feeder Now Operational

April 29, 2025

Big news from Enable Power Systems! We’re proud to confirm the successful commissioning and entry into service of the Reading Independent Feeder – a major project delivered for Network Rail in partnership with National Grid.

This vital piece of infrastructure provides an independent high-voltage supply to the Reading Auto Transformer Feeder Site (ATFS). It significantly boosts the reliability and availability of the 25kV electrified lines, allowing Network Rail greater flexibility for crucial maintenance activities that were previously restricted.

This project, originating from a need identified back in 2017, involved constructing a new ATFS at Holly Cross and installing a 17km HV cable route alongside the railway from the National Grid site at Bramley.

Successfully navigating challenges ranging from ecological considerations (relocation of dormice!) to land acquisition and complex site logistics, this project allowed us to demonstrate the true power of collaboration and engineering excellence.

Congratulations and thank you to our brilliant Enable Infrastructure and Enable Power Systems teams, Network Rail, National Grid, and our supply chain partners, for bringing this essential project to fruition.