Network Rail has announced that it has brought Siemens and Atkins on as its partners in a project to introduce in-cab signalling on the southern section of the East Coast Main Line.
Both Siemens and Atkins will play a significant role in delivering the East Coast Digital Programme.
The first £350 million investment in the ECDP by the government is already being used to begin the introduction of real-time digital signalling on the route.
The ECDP will be the first intercity digital railway in the UK.
The project will see signalling moved to the cabs of trains and will see lineside signals removed
This will mean that the signallers will be able to talk to trains continuously, rather than at fixed points.
What did the officials say?
Toufic Machnouk, programme director of the East Coast Digital Programme, said:
“This is a major step forward in transforming the network for the millions of passengers that use the East Coast Main Line.
“We have adopted a partnership approach across the rail industry to deliver Britain’s first inter-city digital railway, moving away from traditional procurement and bringing together technology providers to set a standard for how digital railway is deployed.
“This is just the beginning of a truly exciting journey that will eventually see digital signalling improving the railway right across the country.”
Rob Morris, Managing Director of Rail Infrastructure for Siemens Mobility in the UK, said:
“We’re thrilled to be appointed both Train Control Partner and Traffic Management Partner for the East Coast Digital Programme. This is a significant step forward for the UK rail industry as we move towards a fully digital railway, and we are delighted to work in partnership with Network Rail to deliver this ground-breaking programme.”
Scott Kelley, Strategic Rail Director, Atkins said:
“This is a genuinely game changing transformation programme at the leading edge of rail industry integration. Our team will bring together unique skills and experience to enable the industry collaboration to deliver the East Coast Digital Programme, establishing the gold standard for future delivery programmes.”
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What about upgrading Colton Junction south of York where the ECML meets with the 4 track lines. And of course Werrington Junction north of Peterborough station that a new underpass is under construction which will hopefully be completed next year to allow freight trains and LNER trains to pass underneath the ECML fast tracks towards Spalding and Lincoln. Without causing any more bottlenecks.
Lner won’t use that as their lincoln trains always go Via Newark – that’s only on diversion. The purpose of that underpass is to relieve the stress of freight trains crossing that track and disrupting the ECML when their running late.