UK freight trains to be upgraded with European Train Control Systems

Network Rail has contracted Siemens Rail Automation to install European Train Control System (ETCS) in-cab signalling on 750 of the UK's heaviest locomotives to improve safety and provide better use of the network with plans to retrofit the entire fleet in 2022. This technology forms part of the country's Digital Railway programme, and the government has invested £450m ($602m) as part of its National Productivity Fund. For the first phase, Siemens will install its Trainguard 200 (T200) ETCS on-board
December 20, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
5021 Network Rail has contracted Siemens Rail Automation to install European Train Control System (ETCS) in-cab signalling on 750 of the UK's heaviest locomotives to improve safety and provide better use of the network with plans to retrofit the entire fleet in 2022. This technology forms part of the country's %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external Digital Railway programme Digital Railway website link false http://digitalrailway.co.uk/ false false%>, and the government has invested £450m ($602m) as part of its National Productivity Fund.

For the first phase, Siemens will install its Trainguard 200 (T200) ETCS on-board solution, with its Level 2, Baseline 3 system on freight locomotives which operate across the county. It will work with Network Rail and the six Freight Operating Companies.

ETCS is designed with the intention of ensuring trains operate within safe limits and speeds. The system permits the driver to operate the train and comes with on-board equipment that can take control should it go over or be in danger of exceeding the limit. T200 comes with fall-back odometry and radar configuration as well as an Automatic Warning System and a Train Protection functionality integrated into the ETCS driver display.

Siemens and Network Rail will support Freight Operating Companies by training around 2,400 drivers on how to use the solution.

Chris Grayling, secretary of state for Transport said: “We are making the biggest investment in the railways since Victorian times and this includes £450m for integrating digital technology on our railways. This technology has huge potential to improve journeys for passengers and to boost our freight industry by cutting delays and increasing the number of services. Today is an important step towards our future as a digital railway that is fit for the 21st century."

More information is available on the %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external website Network Rail Website link false https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/freight-trains-in-britain-to-be-upgraded-with-delay-busting-digital-technology-in-multi-million-pound-deal false false%>.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Uber suspended from resuming Arizona self-driving tests
    March 28, 2018
    Arizona’s state governor Doug Ducey has ordered officials to suspend Uber’s right to test autonomous vehicles on local roads pending the outcome of inquiries by national transport safety regulations – in a report from the BBC. It follows a letter that Ducey sent to the car-hailing company in which he stated that there had been an unquestionable failure to make safety the top priority.
    Read More
  • European cycle safety seminar
    March 9, 2015
    The VRUITS project, which is sponsored by the European Commission, has organised a seminar on cyclists’ safety on 26 March, in the city of Helmond in the Netherlands. The project aims at providing recommendations on ITS applications for the improvement of the safety and mobility for vulnerable road users. VRUITS assesses the societal impact of selected ITS applications and demonstrates the use of innovative ITS applications for VRUs. During the seminar the VRUITS partners will discuss how ITS can be used to
    Read More
  • Emovis to operate Ireland’s M50 toll until 2021
    October 16, 2018
    Emovis will operate the free-flow tolling on Ireland’s M50 up to March 2021 following an extension to its agreement with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The toll services company Emovis says it has been collecting funds of over €1 billion for TII to invest back into infrastructures of Ireland following a 63% increase in traffic to 143,000 passages a day. In March, Emovis confirmed its toll interoperability cloud-based hub in Ireland cleared over 50 million transactions in 2017. The solution is
    Read More
  • ITS America Seeking input
    August 1, 2013
    ITS America is calling for input from ITS professionals worldwide to complete a 10-minute survey focusing on ITS deployment in developing and emerging economies. The results will be used to update the content of the PIARC World Road Association ITS Handbook and to help transform the contents it into a series of web-based modules on key ITS topics. Those wanting to participate in the survey should go to: www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1228759/PIARC
    Read More

Highlighted Content