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Wednesday 2 Jul 2025

Work starts to make classic ‘High Speed Train’ units fit for the future

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Coast

Work has started to fit equipment for digital in cab signalling to the iconic High Speed Trains (HSTs), a symbol of British rail heritage, significantly in the year of Railway 200.

16 Class 43 power cars are being fitted with ETCS (European Train Control System) equipment. The fitment is part of the £1.4 billion East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP), that will transform rail operations by replacing traditional, lineside signals with continuous information displayed inside drivers’ cabs, delivering a more reliable, greener and even safer railway.

The first four power cars to be fitted belong to RailAdventure, a specialist European freight operator, and are used for freight and rolling stock movements.

Four of the power cars belong to Locomotive Services Limited and are used for private charter trains. The remaining eight are leased by Colas Rail from Porterbrook, and are used for infrastructure management, including Network Rail’s New Measurement Train (NMT).

Upgrading these 16 power cars with ETCS will ensure they are fit for the future to run on the East Coast Main Line (ECML), and on other routes as ETCS expands across the network. The work to fit all 16 is expected to be completed by the middle of 2026.

Ben Mason, Charter and Heritage Lead for ECDP said: “In this year of Railway200 we’re pleased to be equipping iconic older generation trains for the next generation railway.

“This work will enable the much loved Class 43s to continue providing vital freight movements, infrastructure work and charter services for many years to come. ECDP continues to progress and build capability as we work to deliver a more reliable, greener and even safer railway.”

Paul Maynard, Vice President, Integrated Communications Supervision (ICS), Hitachi Rail, said: “Giving Britain’s legendary InterCity 125 power cars a ‘digital brain’ shows how the past and future of rail can run side-by-side. By equipping these Class 43s with ETCS, we’re making them even safer and better connected, extending their working life for charter, freight, and infrastructure duties.

“Working shoulder-to-shoulder with Network Rail through the East Coast Digital Programme, we’re proving that brownfield integration can unlock quick wins on the journey to a fully digital railway.”

Kevin Walker, Managing Director, Rail Adventure, said: “RailAdventure are both proud and excited to play our part in the introduction of ETCS signalling on the ECML. Having supported the project through the last 12 months of testing by operating data collection test trains, having our own locomotives ETCS compliant will put in place our final building block for full ETCS readiness.”

Ben Ackroyd, Chief Operating Officer at Porterbrook, said: “Porterbrook is pleased to be playing our part in supporting Network Rail and our industry partners with the delivery of the ECDP. Having managed the Class 43 First-in-Class design and fitment as the lead ROSCO, it's great to see more vehicles being upgraded now in the next phase of this important programme.”