Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and Siemens Mobility have successfully updated the entire fleet of 25 Class 717 Great Northern trains to operate using an advanced version of the European Train Control System (ETCS) in-cab digital signalling software.
The trains are now running in passenger service on the Northern City Line between Finsbury Park and Moorgate in London using ETCS Baseline 3, Release 2 (also known as version 3.6.0). This major digital upgrade, completed in less than three months, proves the concept for the wider national rollout.
Paving the Way for East Coast Digital Programme
The updated ETCS specification is critical for the future of the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP), a government-funded initiative to modernise the East Coast Main Line. This version offers increased flexibility for high-traffic areas by connecting the train to the trackside via GPRS instead of the older GSM-R radio technology, which will be essential to accommodate the route’s high service frequency. All train operators on the East Coast Main Line will eventually adopt this technology.
Jonathan Daniels, Network Rail’s ECDP integration lead, said: “In less than three months, the entire fleet of GTR Class 717s has been upgraded to the new baseline level of ETCS that will be used for digitally signalled services on the East Coast Main Line. The excellent collaboration we had on the Northern City Line has continued into this project, and more fleets will now be upgraded ready for ETCS 3.6.0 operation.”
Benefits of the Signals-Free Commuter Railway
The Northern City Line has become a testbed for national digital signalling. In May, trackside signals were completely removed between Finsbury Park and Moorgate, creating the UK’s first signals-free commuter railway. The successful completion of this fleet upgrade validates the technology required for high-frequency urban corridors.
Govia Thameslink Railway’s senior programme delivery manager Aaron Meakin said: “Once again, innovations delivered on the Northern City Line are forging the way for the introduction of in-cab digital signalling on the wider UK network. By upgrading all our trains to operate with this updated version of the European Train Control System, we’ve proved the concept ready for its roll-out to other train fleets. Digital signalling along the main line, promises huge benefits to passengers, with a more reliable, more sustainable railway, lower emissions, and even better safety for passengers.”
Richard Cooper, infrastructure lead and ECDP project director, Siemens Mobility, said: “The successful upgrade of the Siemens-built Class 717 fleet on the Northern City Line to the new ETCS specification marks a major milestone in our mission to transform rail travel through innovative technology. Working closely with GTR and Network Rail, we are proud to be delivering a more reliable, connected, and higher-capacity railway for passengers travelling between Moorgate and Finsbury Park. This achievement proves that an ETCS no-signals commuter railway unlocks a multitude of benefits on one of the UK’s most demanding urban corridors, and we plan to apply these lessons and improvements to the wider East Coast Main Line.”
