article: It has been almost 90 years since the electricity pylon as we know it was introduced into the UK. Thousands of the 165ft towers line the land, spoiling scenes of beauty with a cat’s cradle of high-voltage cables. But their days are numbered after a more elegant design was seen in action for the first time yesterday – complete with a pair of distinctive ‘earrings’. Scroll down for video . National Grid has revealed the UK's first new pylon for nearly 90 years. Called the T-pylon (artist's illustration shown) it is a third shorter than the old lattice pylons. But it is able to carry just as much power - 400,000 volts. It is designed to be less obtrusive and will be used for clean energy purposes . National Grid is building a training line of the less obtrusive T-pylons at their Eakring training academy in Nottinghamshire. Britain's first pylon, erected in July 1928 near Edinburgh, was designed by architectural luminary Sir Reginald Blomfield, inspired by the Greek root of the word ‘pylon’ (meaning gateway of an Egyptian temple). The campaign against them - they were unloved even then - was run by Rudyard Kipling, John Maynard Keynes and Hilaire Belloc. Five years later, the biggest peacetime construction project seen in Britain, the connection of 122 power stations by 4,000 miles of cable, was completed. It marked the birth of the National Grid and was a major stoking of the nation’s industrial engine and a vital asset during the Second World War. There are now more than 88,000 pylons in the UK, including 22,000 on National Grid’s main transmission network in England and Wales. These stand some 50 metres high, weigh around 30 tonnes and carry up to 400,000 volts of electricity over thousands of kilometres to some of the most exposed, weather-beaten parts of Britain. Each T-pylon measures about 115ft (35 metres) tall - about a third shorter than the old pylons, which were about 165ft (50 metres) tall. The design is a T-shape, with two ‘hanging baskets’ either side holding the various wires and cables needed to transmit electricity. T-pylons were the winners of a 2011 design competition to develop a new pylon that could deal with changing sources of electricity - namely, greener sources such as wind and solar power. ‘We’ve been able to answer "yes" to the hundreds of questions that need to be asked before we can introduce a new type of pylon,’ said David Wright, Director of Electricity Transmission Asset Management at National Grid. ‘The training line has enabled us to learn so many lessons about how to manufacture and build the T-pylon. ‘I’m incredibly proud of the high standard of engineering that brought us to this point.’ Despite being shorter, the new tower is able to transport a similar amount of power to its predecessor - 400,000 volts - and each arm can support 60 tonnes of weight. The simplistic design, composed mostly of just eight components, means new T-pylons can be erected in just a single day, rather than a whole week for older pylons. National Grid is building a training line of six T-pylons at their Eakring training academy in Nottinghamshire . Despite being shorter, the new tower is able to transport a similar amount of power to its predecessor - 400,000 volts - and each arm can support 60 tonnes of weight . Despite being shorter, the new tower is able to transport a similar amount of power to its predecessor - 400,000 volts - and each arm can support 60 tonnes of weight. T-pylons were the winners of a 2011 design competition to develop a new pylon that could deal with changing sources of electricity (others shown right) The simplistic design, composed mostly of just eight components, means new T-pylons can be erected in just a single day, rather than a whole week for older pylons . Maintenance is also easier, as engineers do not need to climb the pylons, but can simply work on them from an elevated platform. The new pylons won’t replace the 88,000 lattice pylons currently in use; rather, the National Grid will use them separately. National Grid plans to use the first operational T-pylons with the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset. ‘We developed the new type of pylon so that we could have a 21st century design to offer as we plan new transmission routes,’ added Mr Wright. ‘The T-pylon is not a replacement for the steel lattice pylon but it’s a new option and in some landscapes its shorter height and sleeker appearance can offer real advantages.’ The new pylons won’t replace the 88,000 lattice pylons currently in use; rather, the National Grid will use them separately. They plan to use the first T-pylons with the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset . Today there are more than 88,000 lattice pylons in the UK, including 22,000 on National Grid’s main transmission network in England and Wales. These stand some 165ft (50 metres) high, weigh around 30 tonnes and carry up to 400,000 volts of electricity over thousands of kilometres .
highlights: National Grid has revealed the UK's first new pylon for nearly 90 years .
  Called the T-pylon it is a third shorter than the old lattice pylons .
  But it is able to carry just as much power - 400,000 volts .
  It is designed to be less obtrusive and will be used for clean energy .
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