The programme to retrofit digital in cab signalling technology onto Britain’s iconic High Speed Train fleet is setting new benchmarks for delivery speed as part of the East Coast Digital Programme.
The third Class 43 power car fitted with ETCS technology has now been returned to owner RailAdventure UK just eight weeks after arriving at UKRL’s Loughborough facility, formerly the Brush locomotive works. A fourth unit is expected to be completed within the same timeframe.
The eight week turnaround is currently the fastest digital retrofit delivered under the £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme, which is replacing traditional lineside signalling with real time digital information displayed directly inside drivers’ cabs.
The programme is designed to improve reliability, increase capacity and support safer and more efficient railway operations across the East Coast Main Line.
Lessons from early retrofit work accelerate delivery
The first four retrofitted Class 43 power cars belong to RailAdventure, which operates specialist freight, rolling stock movement and charter services across Europe.
According to the project team, experience gained during the first two retrofit installations allowed engineers to significantly accelerate progress on subsequent vehicles and establish a more streamlined delivery process for future upgrades.
Ben Mason, Charter and Heritage Lead for the East Coast Digital Programme, said the work has required teams to rethink how older rolling stock is upgraded for digital operation.
“ECDP is all about learning by doing. We’ve had to re learn how we retrofit older generation trains, and create a more streamlined and efficient assurance process,” he said.
“Hitachi and their fitment teams have really turned it around. We’re now in a strong place to quickly deliver the remaining 12 Class 43 units, using an efficient productionised process and avoiding unnecessary duplication.”
The next four Class 43 power cars due to receive ETCS technology belong to Locomotive Services Limited and are used on private charter operations. The first of these vehicles has already arrived at the Loughborough site.
Collaboration central to progress
Hitachi Rail, which is supporting delivery of the retrofit programme, said collaboration between operators, owners and delivery teams has been key to accelerating progress.
Paul Maynard, Vice President for Integrated Communications Supervision at Hitachi Rail, said installation and testing teams played a major role in improving efficiency.
“The pace of progress on the Class 43 programme has been a real turnaround and reflects the strength of collaboration across the project between Network Rail, the vehicle owners and operators, and the wider delivery teams,” he said.
“The way teams have worked together to solve challenges in real time and maintain momentum has been key to getting us where we are today.”
Kevin Walker, Managing Director of RailAdventure, said the company is preparing for network testing later this year.
“RailAdventure are pleased and proud of the progress made with the ETCS fitment on our first two pairs of Class 43s,” he said.
“This will put us in a good place to support the ECDP project with systems testing on the East Coast Main Line south later in the year.”
The project team is now working towards regulatory approval to allow the upgraded Class 43 units to enter regular ETCS operation, with services expected to begin between Welwyn and Hitchin later this year.
