Rail Minister Lord Hendy 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).
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.”
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.”
John Whitehurst, chief operating officer at Govia Thameslink Railway, 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.”
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.”