Press release -
Rail Minister celebrates first ‘no signals’ commuter railway
The following press release has been issued on behalf of the East Coast Digital Programme:
Rail Minister Lord Hendy today celebrated the recent achievement of the Great Northern ‘Northern City Line’ becoming the country’s first commuter railway to operate without signals at the side of the track.
Lord Hendy saw the technology involved with digital in-cab signalling at first hand in a cab ride from Moorgate to Finsbury Park. The lineside signals were recently removed in the first stage of the government-funded £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) read press release here.
Digital signalling gives the train driver constant information on how far and how fast they can travel on a computer screen in the cab, using a system known as ETCS (European Train Control System). It boosts reliability, reduces carbon emissions and will ultimately provide a more punctual service for customers.
Senior industry leaders and Feryal Clark MP, Minister for AI and digital government, joined Lord Hendy for the visit. Delivering such a pioneering change across track and train requires deep industry wide collaboration, and this initial project has proven the success of the unique delivery model involved. This is paving the path for strategic innovation and for more industry integration under GBR.
Lord Hendy was updated on general progress with ECDP, which is expected to introduce digitally signalled services on the East Coast Main Line next year, and the wider masterplan to gradually introduce digital signalling across the wider network.
Rail Minister Lord Hendy said: “Thanks to £1.4 billion of government funding, as part our Plan for Change, we are bringing our railways into the 21st century and beyond.
“Digital signalling is not only more cost effective, but even safer, more resilient and greener than traditional signalling.
“Great British Railways will put passengers back at the heart of our transport network. This government is investing in technology that will increase railway capacity and reduce delays by up to a third, enhancing connectivity to deliver economic growth, jobs and homes.”
John Whitehurst, chief operating officer at Govia Thameslink Railway which operates Great Northern services, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be operating the country’s first signals-free, digitally-controlled commuter railway. It’s working well and improving performance. This achievement is a huge testimony to the hard work put in by our team here at GTR and the close collaboration with our industry partners.”
Toufic Machnouk, managing director, GBRX, said: “The success of the Northern City Line pathfinder is an important step in the wider Digital Railway Masterplan. It sets a benchmark for how we modernise the network and lays the groundwork for how we deliver innovative technology that improves the railway for people through GBRX.”
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s managing director, Eastern region, said: “This shift from traditional signals to digital control on such a busy commuter route is a huge achievement, and today has been a chance to celebrate bringing in the next generation railway in this year of Railway 200. I would like to thank our signallers, controllers, maintainers and all who have worked with our industry partners to make this change possible.”
Rob Morris, joint CEO and managing director, rail infrastructure and software, Siemens Mobility UK&I, said: "By bringing track and train together through our digital technology, we are helping to transform rail travel and transport. Our Siemens Class 717 trains are the first passenger fleet to operate with ETCS digital signalling that we’re delivering on this programme, marking a revolutionary shift from lineside signals to digital in-cab systems.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About 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. Work is under way to install and test the kit on the wider East Coast Main Line.
Greater 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.
Even safer: The system no longer depends on line-of-sight signals and gives drivers the ability to 'see' the track is clear many miles ahead by continuously calculating a safe maximum speed for each train. If they exceed the constantly-updated clearance ('authority') to travel or dynamic speed limit, then the train will be brought safely to a halt.
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 two 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 lifespan 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
