Target 190: Sustainable signalling renewals
We’re developing the tools needed to reduce the cost of signalling to make the railway sustainable and affordable for the future.
The railway faces a major industry challenge, where the cost and volume of future signalling renewals is unsustainable. Over the next 15 years there is a need to deliver an increase of over 50% of the signalling renewals work at half the current price to achieve a sustainable, affordable railway that can meet customer needs and expectations.
Britain must have a reliable, high performing railway that’s fit for the future, delivers financial value and provides operational performance in a safe and sustainable way. To reduce costs and increase access on the railway we are creating new ways of working and introducing new technology. The use of digital technology will improve the services to freight and passenger customers, causing less delays due to signalling failure and track closures for access to complete repairs and providing the opportunity for more trains to run where needed.
We’re working across Industry to build a new approach for balancing research and development and engineering solutions with the needs of end users and customers.
Target 190
Target 190 or T190 is a Network Rail Research & Development (R&D) programme that addresses the signalling renewals delivery and sustainability challenge. It builds further efficiencies through its outputs on top of the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 benefits by:
- Developing processes and tools which reduce the time to deliver ETCS projects
- Developing tools that allow us automate the F-CCS processes, speeding up delivery
- Optimising the use of data to support the T190 outputs
- Leveraging innovation in technological advances, Standardisation for process consistency and Automation
It has the aim to reduce the current ETCS Level 2 Signalling Equivalent Unit (SEU) cost of £315k*/SEU to a sustainable level of £190k/SEU or lower. This will enable the delivery of Safe and Affordable Signalling for a GB Railway that’s Simpler, Better, Greener.
*Rates show network average based on 2017/18 price basis
Target 190 enabled benefits for the operational railway
View the Target 190 enabled benefits PDF here
Target 190 resources
February 2024 webinar
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