New trains delivered as part of the £5.8 billion Intercity Express Programme (IEP) will be fitted with Hitachi’s own ETCS signalling system, the company has announced.
Hitachi confirmed today (January 15) that its onboard solution had now been successfully certified in accordance with European standards on interoperability following its ‘Verification-Train 3’ testing programme on the Cambrian Line.
Trial runs were carried out by a retro-fitted Network Rail Class 97 locomotive to see how well Hitachi’s ETCS system communicated with the Ansaldo STS lineside equipment already installed as a testbed for ERTMS in the UK.
Testing had to be carried out to ensure the technology’s compatibility with other suppliers given the framework contract already agreed by Network Rail with Signalling Solutions Ltd, Invensys Rail, Infrasig and Ansaldo STS.
Between now and 2022, Network Rail is aiming to install ERTMS on sections of the Great Western main line (GWML), East Coast main line (ECML) and Midland main line. In that same period, Hitachi will begin delivering the 92 Class 800 trains which will replace Intercity 125s on the GWML and 30 new Class 801 vehicles for the ECML.
