£350m for digital signals on East Coast Mainline

THE UK’S first digital signalling system on a long-distance rail route will be installed on the East Coast Main Line, the Department for Transport has announced.

The Government has approved £350m of funding to start rolling out the technology on a 100-mile stretch of the line between London King’s Cross and Lincolnshire.

It is hoped the upgrade to the line, which stops at Leeds, York, Wakefield and Doncaster, will cut thousands of hours of delays each year.

Much of Britain’s rail signalling uses Victorian technology, with line-side traffic lights controlling trains. Digital technology enables trains to run closer together, boosting frequency, speed and reliability.

It is already in use on the Thameslink network for trains passing through London Bridge, and on some London Underground lines.

The £350m funding is on top of the Government’s investment of £1.2bn between 2014 and 2024 to improve journeys on the East Coast Main Line.

This includes creating capacity for up to 10,000 extra seats each day.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said as the country recovers from Covid-19 the aim is to speed up our economy and reap the benefits of new transport technology.

Mr Shapps said: “The Victorians gave us the world’s first great rail network and now it’s our turn to be modern transport pioneers and build on that great tradition.

“Upgrading this country’s conventional signalling system, and giving drivers technology fit for the 21st century, will boost train performance, cut delays, improve safety and support the supply chain.”

He added: “In time, we will digitise signalling right across the country to make good on our promise of better reliability and punctuality for passengers.

“Passengers shouldn’t have to worry about missing connections or being late home to see their children.”

More than 80 million journeys are made each year on the East Coast Main Line, linking London with Edinburgh.

No date has been given for when digital signalling will be operational on the route.

Passengers were not able to travel to or from London King’s Cross or on Thameslink services via Finsbury Park this weekend as the next stage of work on the East Coast upgrade continued.

Network Rail installed new overhead line equipment as part of work to reopen a disused railway tunnel on the approach to King’s Cross. The extra space will allow additional tracks to be laid, meaning that more trains can enter and exit the station.

Ed Akers, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said: “The Covid-19 crisis continues to bring significant challenges for the railway, however we are working day and night to keep the railway running reliably and safely and to carry out essential work.”

A spokesperson on behalf of train operators on the route, added: “This work is really important to make sure we have a railway which can meet the needs of communities and economies along the route for the long term.

“The work will mean more reliable, more frequent and faster services with more seats, improving travel for our passengers.”