Digital in-cab signalling has been fitted to High Speed Train power cars in just eight weeks.

The third (43468) of 16 Class 43s being fitted with ETCS equipment has now returned to its owner, RailAdventure UK, just 8 weeks after arriving at UKRL’s Loughborough Facility.

The fourth unit (43484) is expected to be completed shortly, also in an eight-week schedule.

This is the quickest turnaround of an upgrade so far, with these units being used for freight and rolling stock movements as well as charter services.

The next four units belong to Locomotive Services Limited under the Midland Pullman brand, and the first of these, No. 43047, has now arrived at the former Brush Works.

The final eight Class 43s are from Colas Rail, and these will be used for infrastructure management, including Network Rail’s NMT Train.

“ECDP is all about learning by doing. We’ve had to re-learn how we retrofit older generation trains, and create a more streamlined and efficient assurance process.

“Hitachi and their fitment teams have really turned it around. We’re now in a strong place to quickly deliver the remaining 12 Class 43 units, using an efficient productionised process and avoiding unnecessary duplication. The significant progress we’ve made is all down to teamwork and collaboration.”

Ben Mason, charter and heritage lead for ECDP

“RailAdventure are pleased and proud of the progress made with the ETCS fitment on our first two pairs of Class 43s. We are looking forward to taking them out on the network for testing and shakedowns.

“This will put us in a good place to support the ECDP project with systems testing on the East Coast Main Line south later in the year.”

Kevin Walker, managing director, RailAdventure