Rail minister Huw Merriman has visited King’s Cross station in London to see progress with the installation of digital signalling on the southern section of the East Coast Main Line.

During the past year the programme to introduce the European Train Control System has seen newly-equipped trains used on the Northern City Line between Finsbury Park and Moorgate, while the first retrofitted passenger trains have been tested at the upgraded Rail Innovation and Development Centre. More rolling stock will be fitted soon, including suburban passenger trains and freight locomotives.

Almost 3,000 drivers will be trained to work with information on a monitor in the cab instead of from signals by the lineside, and there are also plans to fit ETCS on those steam locomotives which are approved for special runs on the main line.

The past year has also seen government approval of the Full Business Case for the project, which is supported by over £1 billion of further investment.

The rail minister was shown the project during his visit to King’s Cross yesterday, when he said: ‘It has truly been a year of breakthrough delivery on our East Coast Digital Programme, from the commissioning of new signalling to the testing of trains.’

Network Rail’s director, Industry Partnership for Digital Railway, Toufic Machnouk, said: ‘We are creating the future railway. We are pushing the boundaries with our collaboration across the industry, and demonstrating what the industry can achieve when working together.’ 

source= http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2022/12/09-rail-minister-sees-etcs-progress.html