Most freight trains have been diverted from the line by the opening of the North Doncaster Chord project[1] which was completed in June 2014.

The line is electrified at 25 kV AC using Mark 3b equipment, the route availability is 10, loading gauge is W9, and maximum permissible speed is 125 miles per hour (201 km/h).

[n 1][7] At the parliamentary reading of the bill, it was claimed that the alternative of leaving a mile wide bed of coal unmined underneath the line would represent a loss of £500–800 million.

[n 2] Due to the long timescale of the planning process, the full design and construction phase was required to be carried out in four years (by 1983[n 3]).

[14] Construction was formally started on 29 July 1980, in the presence of Glynn England (CEGB), Peter Parker (BR), and Derek Ezra (NCB).

[15] The work was undertaken by A. Monk & Company Ltd and was completed 3 months ahead of schedule, formally opening on 3 October 1983, at a final cost of £63 million.