In order to bring the European train control system (ETCS) to the Southern section of the East Coast Mainline, I am happy to announce an investment of over £1 billion in the East Coast digital program.
Digital signaling, commonly referred to as European train control system, projects signaling onto a screen within the train’s cab.
This eliminates the need for line-side signals by giving drivers continuous real-time information, such as the maximum permitted speeds.
Trackside sensors are kept in place to monitor the train’s location on the network and to facilitate adaptive decision-making by analyzing and comprehending the features of that specific train, such as its speed and braking distance.
With this investment, the route from London King’s Cross to Stoke Tunnel, just north of Peterborough, will be outfitted with trains and lineside technology, as well as the integration of this technology into the network and its operating firms.
The European Train Control System will be installed for the first time on a mixed-use mainline in the UK rail network, improving on-time performance and dependability for both passenger and freight services along the entire line.
More services will be able to run on the same section of rail since trains will be able to run more closely together safely. The service will be more dependable for the consumer if there are fewer signaling failures and if any delays are recovered from more quickly.
With a shift away from Victorian-era signaling methods and toward a high-performing digital substitute, this program of work offers a singular chance to enable a positive step-change in technology on the network.
It is crucial that capacity and dependability are both enhanced in a financially sustainable way as demand picks up as the rail industry works to recover from the pandemic.
Since upkeep of these assets is more economical throughout the course of the signals’ entire lifespan, this significant initial investment in the rail industry also offers the potential for long-term savings.
Additionally, this program will generate about 5,000 highly qualified jobs for the rail sector.
The Northern City Line’s infrastructure and initial enabling projects, including the installation of trains, have already started.
Work is expected to continue throughout the 2020s.
This significant expenditure serves as a reminder of the government’s continuous dedication to updating our railways to bring them into the twenty-first century.
By upgrading this crucial economic artery that runs along the spine of this nation, the deployment of this breakthrough technology for the first time on a mixed-use mainline in the UK would benefit users, aid in the development of a financially viable railway, and increase and level up the economy.