Tuesday 2 Jan 2024
Upgrade work continues as East Coast Digital Programme progresses further up the line
- Region & Route:
- Eastern
- | Eastern: East Coast
Work is progressing well on the billion-pound East Coast Digital Programme with work being carried out further up the line between Peterborough and Grantham.
Network Rail engineers will be working on the East Coast Main Line over the weekends of the 6 / 7 January and 13 / 14 January, resulting in some changes to train services for passengers travelling to and from London.
During the work, teams will be carrying out further improvements to the trackwork in the area, adjusting overhead line equipment, and testing newly installed cabling and equipment that will make the new system function.
The project will see traditional, lineside signals removed and replaced with signalling displayed inside drivers’ cabs. The change will lead to more reliable journeys for passengers and a greener railway.
At the same time, a separate project will be focusing on improving mobile phone signal inside the tunnels at the mouth of King’s Cross station. The Network Rail and LNER project will deliver better mobile phone connectivity for passengers as they travel in and out of King’s Cross by train.
As a result of the upgrade work, there will be changes to rail services with no long distance services into or out of London King’s Cross over the two weekends.
LNER will be operating a reduced service starting and terminating at Grantham. Rail replacement coaches will run between Grantham and Peterborough to Corby / Kettering, where customers can join EMR services to London St Pancras.
Hull Trains will be running a reduced train service of two trains in each direction which will divert and terminate in London St Pancras. Lumo services will only operate between Edinburgh and Newcastle, with Grand Central operating no service on the affected days.
Passengers are encouraged to check their journey before travelling through National Rail Enquiries or their train operator.
Ricky Barsby, Head of Access and Integration for East Coast Digital Programme, said: “Work is progressing well on this pioneering project and we continue to prepare the way for changing the way train services operate on the East Coast Main Line.
“This work has been scheduled years in advance and while we never want to disrupt passengers’ journeys, these upgrades are vital to delivering a more resilient, more reliable and greener railway for the future.
“We want to thank passengers for their patience and understanding and encourage them to check their journey before travelling.”
A spokesperson on behalf of LNER, Hull Trains, Lumo, and Grand Central said: “While there will be changes to services on these weekends, our teams will be working really hard to keep passengers moving and to get them to their destination as quickly as possible.
“The latest information can be found on our websites and through our social media channels and we encourage passengers to plan ahead before travelling.”
There will be further ECDP work taking place in February between Saturday 17 and Tuesday 20, with buses replacing trains. Further information can be found via National Rail Enquiries.
Notes to Editors
Interview Opportunity
There will be opportunity to interview Ricky Barsby about the ECDP work at Peterborough station on Thursday 4 January. Please contact: Joshua.Chapman@networkrail.co.uk and to arrange an interview.
Digital signalling
Digital signalling, using ETCS is a proven technology already in use in many countries in Europe and elsewhere. The ECDP will see the first introduction of ETCS to an intercity mainline in Great Britain, and will provide the foundation for the future expansion of digital signalling across the network. ETCS is currently in use in the central London section of Thameslink and on the Cambrian Line in Wales, and now on the Northern City Line (Finsbury Park to Moorgate), in the first stage of ECDP.
More reliability: With signalling information being provided directly to the driver, via a screen in their cab, there will no longer be a need to maintain a large amount of lineside equipment involved with traditional ‘traffic light’ signals. As a result, the amount of signalling-related engineering work will reduce in the future by around almost half. Additionally, trains are sometimes affected by signal failures; moving to a modern, digitally based system makes this less likely, potentially reducing thousands of hours of delays, and making train services more reliable.
More punctual services: Digital signalling gives train drivers continual information about the safe maximum speed for their train. It provides drivers with additional information about the route ahead, that today’s fixed ‘traffic light’ signals do not. This enables more ‘efficient’ operations, helping trains stay on time. The new technology allows continuous communication between the trackside and onboard equipment. Signallers can continuously communicate with every train on the network and respond in real time using digital tools to help smooth the flow of trains and recover services more quickly after disruption.
Greener journeys: Digital signalling contributes to a greener railway. The East Coast Main Line is already electrified, and these upgrades will deliver a further 55,000 tonne reduction in carbon emissions over 60 years – the equivalent to over 65,000 one-way flights from London to New York, or over 2 million passenger train journeys from London to Edinburgh. This is because there is much less physical equipment to produce and maintain compared with what’s needed for ‘traffic light’ signals. The estimated whole life carbon saving over a 60-year period (the expected life span of a ‘traditional’ signalling system) is around 39%. The technology also allows gentler braking, meaning journeys are smoother and use less energy. Finally, a more reliable and punctual railway will encourage more people to choose rail over road and air, ultimately reducing transport emissions for the long-term.
For further information about the ECDP please visit www.eastcoastdigitalprogramme.co.uk
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Joshua Chapman
Media Relations Manager
Network Rail
joshua.chapman@networkrail.co.uk
About Network Rail
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