UK Freight Digital Signalling Takes Major Leap Forward with First Fleet Fitment

A significant step has been taken today towards the challenging task of equipping hundreds of Britain’s freight locomotives with ETCS (European Train Control System) digital in-cab signalling equipment.

GB Railfreight’s locomotive 66 784 has officially begun its ETCS fitment work at EMD Longport. This locomotive marks the first freight fitment outside of the initial ‘first in class’ process, signifying the commencement of early fleet fitment for the National Freight ETCS Programme (NFP), a project that has been several years in the making.

Fitting ETCS to freight locomotives, some of which are 30 to 40 years old, represents the most challenging aspect of the £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP). The ECDP is set to revolutionise rail operations by replacing traditional, lineside signals with continuous information displayed inside drivers’ cabs, promising a more flexible, reliable, greener, and even safer railway.

Siemens Mobility is the ECDP’s dedicated freight fitment partner, responsible for designing, integrating, and installing its Trainguard 200 onboard unit, which will facilitate a digitally signalled East Coast Main Line.

Network Rail, Siemens Mobility, and the freight operating companies have been working in close collaboration to overcome the complex design and assurance challenges associated with this fitment. This concerted sector collaboration has successfully delivered a baseline design for the Class 66, which is the principal freight fleet operating on the network. This baseline is now enabling the ECDP to progress an initial fitment schedule of eight locomotives (with 66 784 being the first), while work continues to solve and finalise some remaining design aspects ahead of APIS (Approval to Place into Service) for fitted Class 66 locomotives.

Ed Akers, Network Rail’s Industry Partnership Director, ECDP, said: “Today marks a step forward. We’ve collaborated with the rail freight sector to address the challenges involved with fitting 21st century technology to 20th century locomotives. Fitting locos provides more certainty for the sector and the business change required for digital transformation. ECDP involves ‘learning by doing’ and much hard work has already taken place to get us to this point. We continue to build our capability in freight fitment as we begin this exciting new phase.”

Emma Smith, GB Railfreight’s ERTMS Senior Project Manager, said: “This milestone reflects the outstanding dedication and expertise of the entire ERTMS Team at GB Railfreight. It has taken a collaborative and pragmatic approach, working closely with our partners, to reach this point. While this is just the beginning of our fitment journey, the team’s focus and commitment give me every confidence in our ability to deliver the programme successfully.“

Adrian Stubbs, Director of Rail Infrastructure Portfolio – Onboard, Siemens Mobility UK&I, said: “The start of fleet fitment for the National Freight ETCS Programme is an important step in the journey to digital signalling and a key part of our mission to transform rail travel and transport on the East Coast Main Line. Integrating ETCS into legacy freight locomotives is a complex task, and our engineering teams have worked closely with Network Rail and the freight sector to overcome significant design and assurance challenges. This next phase reflects the steady, collaborative progress being made toward wider rollout, eventually unlocking benefits such as increased capacity, reduced infrastructure maintenance, and improved reliability for freight operations.”

Read more about the ETCS benefits for freight by clicking here.

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