An East Coast digital milestone
Welwyn to Hitchin section of East Coast route on course to become Britain’s inaugural ‘no signals’ intercity mainline.
THE introduction of in-cab digital signalling on the East Coast Main Line has moved a step closer following commissioning of the Welwyn to Hitchin (W2H) European Train Control System (ETCS) overlay. W2H is Britain’s first instance of infrastructure commissioning towards a ‘no physical signals’ intercity mainline.
The overlay is a critical part of the East Coast Digital Programme’s (ECDP) delivery plan. To achieve the end goal of a ‘no signals’ railway on the southern part of the East Coast Main Line (ECML), it is necessary to create a section of route that can be operated with both conventional and digital signalling. Drivers from all ECML operators will progressively be trained to drive in ETCS through the W2H overlay. Once all train fleets are upgraded and all drivers trained, the progressive rollout of digital signalling throughout ECML (South) can rapidly follow. The W2H overlay will be a key enabler not just for ECDP, but for the wider rollout of ETCS across the whole rail network.
W2H commissioning involved what has been termed a ‘lite’ resignalling in preparation for system proving of the ETCS system. A new proving desk and Radio Block Centre will be put in place in the York Rail Operating Centre to enable the first overnight proving trains to operate from this spring. It is expected that migration to ETCS operations on passenger and freight services through the overlay section will begin in 2025.
The W2H lite resignalling has included moving existing assets to Westrace Trackside System equipment; introducing three new Trackguard Westlock interlockings and associated infrastructure; trackside fringe alterations at Hatfield, Biggleswade, Hertford and Letchworth; and renewing the existing train detection with axle counters. Power works saw three new principal supply point feeders introduced, replacing seven existing 650V feeders.
Pathfinder project
This also involves an overlay between Finsbury Park and Moorgate, on which Great Northern drivers are progressively being trained to drive using ETCS.
After a series of proving runs and regulatory approvals, the first digitally signalled passenger train operated in November 2023. Currently around a quarter of NCL trains are being operated in ETCS and it is expected that the NCL will be a ‘no signals’ railway from early 2025.
The NCL pathfinder is enabling the ECDP to ‘learn by doing’, and the experience gained by the cross-industry collaboration will be invaluable to the effective delivery of digital signalling on the mainline, starting with W2H.