LNER has completed the first live operation of an Azuma train under full European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 supervision on the East Coast Main Line.
Testing took place overnight on both Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 July, during which time technicians, engineers and drivers from LNER, Network Rail, Agility Trains, Hitachi Rail and LNER test train operator RailAdventure UK worked together to ensure a smooth trial.
Travelling between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin, the train and trackside systems were guided tested in order to better understand how ETCS Level 2 technology performs at line speed in real operating conditions.
ETCS replaces traditional lineside signals with digital in-cab signalling, and allows the signalling system and trains to communicate continuously, providing real-time information directly to a computer screen situated in the driver’s cab. It is expected to boost reliability, reduce carbon emissions and provide a more punctual service for customers.
Gary Page, European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Operations Interface Manager at LNER, said:This is a hugely important milestone for LNER and for the wider East Coast Digital Programme. Successfully operating an Azuma train under test conditions, under ETCS Level 2 supervision on the East Coast Main Line is the culmination of months of planning, and collaboration across all the partners involved.
The trial has provided valuable first-hand experience of operating with digital signalling in a live railway environment, providing important insights into how the technology performs. ETCS has the potential to transform the railway by improving safety, reliability and operational performance, and we are proud to be playing a leading role in its introduction.
