A medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole, comprising: - a fixed contact of a vacuum interrupter; - a movable contact of the vacuum interrupter; - a threaded pushrod; and - a threaded drive element; wherein, the movable contact is configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the vacuum interrupter; wherein, the threaded pushrod is connected to the movable contact, and wherein the thread of the pushrod is configured to engage with the thread of the threaded drive element; wherein, a centre axis of the threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vacuum interrupter, wherein rotation of the threaded drive element is configured to move the threaded pushrod along the centre axis of the threaded drive element, and wherein the threaded pushrod is configured not to rotate as the threaded drive element rotates; wherein, when in an open configuration the fixed contact and movable contact are separated from one another; wherein, when in a closed configuration the fixed contact and movable contact are in contact with one another; and wherein, rotation of the threaded drive element about its centre axis in a first direction is configured to transition the switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, wherein the threaded pushrod is movable connected to the movable contact, wherein after the movable contact has been moved to contact the fixed contact the threaded pushrod is configured to continue to move towards fixed contact to compress a contact pressure spring until a required contact pressure is obtained, and wherein rotation of the threaded drive element about its centre axis in a second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration. - a fixed contact of a vacuum interrupter; - a movable contact of the vacuum interrupter; - a threaded pushrod; and - a threaded drive element; wherein, the movable contact is configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the vacuum interrupter; wherein, the threaded pushrod is connected to the movable contact, and wherein the thread of the pushrod is configured to engage with the thread of the threaded drive element; wherein, a centre axis of the threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vacuum interrupter, wherein rotation of the threaded drive element is configured to move the threaded pushrod along the centre axis of the threaded drive element, and wherein the threaded pushrod is configured not to rotate as the threaded drive element rotates; wherein, when in an open configuration the fixed contact and movable contact are separated from one another; wherein, when in a closed configuration the fixed contact and movable contact are in contact with one another; and wherein, rotation of the threaded drive element about its centre axis in a first direction is configured to transition the switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, wherein the threaded pushrod is movable connected to the movable contact, wherein after the movable contact has been moved to contact the fixed contact the threaded pushrod is configured to continue to move towards fixed contact to compress a contact pressure spring until a required contact pressure is obtained, and wherein rotation of the threaded drive element about its centre axis in a second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration. wherein, the movable contact is configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the vacuum interrupter; wherein, the threaded pushrod is connected to the movable contact, and wherein the thread of the pushrod is configured to engage with the thread of the threaded drive element; wherein, a centre axis of the threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vacuum interrupter, wherein rotation of the threaded drive element is configured to move the threaded pushrod along the centre axis of the threaded drive element, and wherein the threaded pushrod is configured not to rotate as the threaded drive element rotates; wherein, when in an open configuration the fixed contact and movable contact are separated from one another; wherein, when in a closed configuration the fixed contact and movable contact are in contact with one another; and wherein, rotation of the threaded drive element about its centre axis in a first direction is configured to transition the switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, wherein the threaded pushrod is movable connected to the movable contact, wherein after the movable contact has been moved to contact the fixed contact the threaded pushrod is configured to continue to move towards fixed contact to compress a contact pressure spring until a required contact pressure is obtained, and wherein rotation of the threaded drive element about its centre axis in a second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration.