Press release -
Commuter trains now all controlled digitally on City of London route
Ground-breaking digital signalling technology is now controlling every single train that commuters catch on the Great Northern route to Moorgate in the City of London.
The European Train Control System (ETCS) allows continuous communication between train and track to create a more punctual and reliable service for passengers.
It does this by removing the need for signals at the side of the track (these will be completely switched off in 2025). Instead, drivers are continually fed a safe target speed to aim for on a computer screen in their cab.
ETCS was introduced to the route between Moorgate and Finsbury Park in London (known as the 'Northern City Line') as the first stage of the £1.4bn government-funded East Coast Digital Programme. This involves partners from across the rail industry, including Network Rail, trade union colleagues, many train and freight operators and technology providers.
The first passenger train ran to the City of London using digital signalling a year ago. Since then, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has been steadily training its Great Northern drivers to use the system.
Oliver Turner, head of digital signalling (Head of ERTMS) at GTR, said: “Digital signalling is better for passengers because it means we can run a more consistent, more punctual service.
“It’s hard to overstate the challenge of moving to ETCS and, the significance of reaching the point where every train on our route into Moorgate is controlled this way. It is a huge achievement both for Great Northern and our parent company GTR and also for the railway as a whole because this has been a massive collaborative effort from so many different industry partners.
“We are pleased with how the new system is working and we are working with Network Rail and Siemens Mobility colleagues to continually review and improve how we operate it.”
Introducing digital signalling on the busy commuter route to Moorgate is an important first step towards replacing regular signals with in-cab digital signalling on the southern part of the East Coast Mainline, between King’s Cross and Grantham. This in turn provides a foundation for the future expansion of digital signalling across the Great Britain rail network.
Ed Akers, Network Rail’s industry partnership director for ECDP, said: “This is a great achievement on what will become the first commuter railway in the country to operate without any physical signals. I’d like to thank all the signallers, drivers, engineers and planners across our whole partnership who have worked hard to make the Northern City Line project a success.
“Introducing digital signalling on this route has provided many learnings and invaluable experience as we prepare to introduce digital signalling to the East Coast Main Line, creating a higher performing railway for the many passengers and freight customers who depend on it.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
There may be one or two scenarios where the driver would be instructed by the signaller to revert to the old signalling system (Level-NTC, using the conventional signals) but this option will not be available after the signals have been switched off and, in the meantime, most incidents will be managed under ETCS degraded modes.
Digital signalling
Digital signalling, using ETCS is a proven technology already in use in many countries in Europe and elsewhere. The ECDP will see the first introduction of ETCS to an intercity mainline in Great Britain, and will provide the foundation for the future expansion of digital signalling across the network. ETCS is currently in use in the central London section of Thameslink and on the Cambrian Line in Wales, and now on the Northern City Line (Finsbury Park to Moorgate), in the first stage of ECDP.
More reliability: With signalling information being provided directly to the driver, via a screen in their cab, there will no longer be a need to maintain a large amount of lineside equipment involved with traditional ‘traffic light’ signals. As a result, the amount of signalling-related engineering work will reduce in the future by around almost half. Additionally, trains are sometimes affected by signal failures; moving to a modern, digitally based system makes this less likely, potentially reducing thousands of hours of delays, and making train services more reliable.
More punctual services: Digital signalling gives train drivers continual information about the safe maximum speed for their train. It provides drivers with additional information about the route ahead, that today’s fixed ‘traffic light’ signals do not. This enables more ‘efficient’ operations, helping trains stay on time. The new technology allows continuous communication between the trackside and onboard equipment. Signallers can continuously communicate with every train on the network and respond in real time using digital tools to help smooth the flow of trains and recover services more quickly after disruption.
Greener journeys: Digital signalling contributes to a greener railway. The East Coast Main Line is already electrified, and these upgrades will deliver a further 55,000 tonne reduction in carbon emissions over 60 years – the equivalent to over 65,000 one-way flights from London to New York, or over 2 million passenger train journeys from London to Edinburgh. This is because there is much less physical equipment to produce and maintain compared with what’s needed for ‘traffic light’ signals. The estimated whole life carbon saving over a 60-year period (the expected life span of a ‘traditional’ signalling system) is around 39%. The technology also allows gentler braking, meaning journeys are smoother and use less energy. Finally, a more reliable and punctual railway will encourage more people to choose rail over road and air, ultimately reducing transport emissions for the long-term.
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Govia Thameslink Railway
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services as follows:
- Thameslink – cross-London services between Bedford/Peterborough/Cambridge and Brighton/Horsham/East Grinstead, and between Luton/St Albans and Sutton/Wimbledon/Rainham; plus services between London and Sevenoaks
- Great Northern – services between London and Welwyn, Hertford, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn
- Southern – services between London and the Sussex coast (Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Hastings) and parts of Surrey, Kent and Hampshire (Ashford International, Southampton, Portsmouth)
- Gatwick Express – fast, non-stop direct services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria
www.southernrailway.com, www.thameslinkrailway.com, www.gatwickexpress.com, www.greatnorthernrail.com