Strategic moment for ETCS in UK as key passenger and freight trains complete dynamic testing

On 22 August 2024 another step forward has been taken towards the introduction of the ETCS to the East Coast Main Line with the completion of dynamic testing for key trains in both the passenger and freight sector. Govia Thameslink Railway’s Great Northern Electrostar 387 101 and DB Cargo’s locomotive 66 039 have successfully completed their testing across a range of operational scenarios, including transition into and running in Level 2 full supervision, as well as running safely in degraded modes of operation.

Each vehicle is the First in Class (FiC) for their respective fleets – the Class 387 is part of the Electrostar family of commuter units widely used in South East England, and the Class 66 is Britain’s principal freight fleet. The dynamic testing, done at Network Rail’s Rail Innovation and Development Centre (RIDC) in Melton, forms a vital stage in the preparations for these fleets operating with digital signalling as part of the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) and subsequent ETCS deployments.   

The process has involved close collaborative working between Network Rail, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Porterbrook, DB Cargo and their respective on-board equipment providers, Alstom (for Class 387) and Siemens Mobility (for Class 66). Both vehicles will now go through a process of accumulating fault-free running mileage as the next stage in the approvals process.

Aaron Meakin, GTR’s Senior Programme Delivery Manager for ERTMS, said: “Completing dynamic testing is a huge achievement. The Class 387 will be the country’s first major commuter fleet to have this technology retrofitted, and we’re looking forward to completing the work to the remaining 28 units at our depot in Hornsey, north London.”

Alstom is providing equipment and expertise to retrofit ETCS OBUs to the first of GTR’s Class 387/1 Great Northern fleet, as part of the East Coast Digital Programme. Once the system is proved, then GTR will fit the remaining 28 387/1s with the technology in-house, at its depot in Hornsey, north London. Siemens Mobility is providing the design and fitment of its ETCS Trainguard 200 on-board equipment for freight locomotives.