One signalling and control system

Crossrail 2 will use one signalling and control system, which should in theory reduce the ‘brainpower’ needed for the computers used on board the trains.

Chris Curtis, Head of Crossrail 2 at Network Rail, told RAIL: “There will be one signalling system on the train. We’ll have ETCS [European Train Control System], the standard European signalling system, which is being used on one small part of Crossrail, and which is what we’re proposing as our standard signalling system for Crossrail 2 as a whole.”

As part of its digital plan, Network Rail is to resignal lines to the ETCS standard over the next 20 to 30 years. However, Curtis said there will be an “intervening period” between this work being completed and trains running on the Crossrail 2 route where a transition will be required.

At present, ETCS is used on a section of Thameslink, although Curtis said trains need to arrive using what he called “conventional arrangements” and then switch systems.

“The difference between Thameslink and Crossrail 1 and Crossrail 2 is that the equipment on board the train will be ETCS, but it will be able to recognise the legacy signalling, meaning there will only be one computer on board the train rather than three. Having three on board trains is the challenge,” he said.

“It goes beyond what’s on board the train, though. On Crossrail 1, there are separate control systems where two sides are controlled from Anglia and another at Didcot. But we will have one control system.”

Curtis also told Policy Forum for London delegates that Network Rail “won’t be building Crossrail 2 with trains running”. He explained: “We will be making sure we can design it so we can build it without disrupting train services unless we absolutely have to.”