We made further progress this August bank holiday on the East Coast Digital Programme.
The programme forms part of our mission to give you twenty-first century digital signalling – for a more reliable, greener and more capable railway.
It’s an important step in our £1.4bn East Coast Digital Programme that will bring digital signalling to the East Coast Main Line for the first time.
We tested a long-distance train with newly installed European Train Control Signalling (ETCS) at high speed on Sunday 25 August between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin on the East Coast Main Line, which runs North from London King’s Cross. It’s the first time we’ve tested a long-distance train on the Main Line.
Ricky Barsby, head of access and integration on the East Coast Digital Programme at Network Rail, said: “We had to do important testing to check the new system is working well with trains operating at high speed. We thank all passengers who were affected for their patience. The vital work is bringing us a step closer to a more punctual, reliable and greener East Coast Main Line.”
Example of in-cab digital signalling equipment.
Testing the technology
The testing involves a range of scenarios and making sure that trains fitted with the necessary on board equipment work as expected with the equipment beside the railway and the control centre. Real life operational scenarios are simulated – or created – to build confidence in the tech and there are rigorous processes involved, ensuring the safety of the systems involved.
Earlier this year we tested our first locomotive freight train fitted with ETCS along a test track at the Rail Innovation and Development Centre in Leicestershire. We deliberately fitted a Class 66 locomotive because it’s the most common type of freight locomotive on our railway. But there are plans for hundreds of freight locos being equipped with this tech over the next few years.
And the testing between Welwyn and Hitchin on the East Coast Main Line will continue in the coming months, involving different trains and onboard systems.
We’ll do much of this testing at night to reduce disruption to your train services.
Faster, more frequent and more reliable journeys
The East Coast Digital Programme will install ETCS digital technology onto the East Coast Main Line for the first time.
The ETCS system involves removing traditional signals beside the railway and replacing them with digital signalling. The in-cab signalling system will give us a more capable railway that can run more reliable trains for you.
You can read more about the tech here.
This new tech will lead to better journeys for you and freight on this busy route between London and Edinburgh via Peterborough, York and Newcastle. And this weekend’s progress is an exciting part of bringing this new tech to you.
