ECTS introduction on ECML – Ed Cooper

On 13th January after the AGM Ed Cooper presented his talk about ETCS

Ed is working on the application of ETCS to the southern section of the ECML, a section of around 100 miles from Kings Cross to Stoke Tunnel (south of Grantham). This is part of Network Rail’s East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP). He has been with Siemens for four years and is based in Chippenham, famous of course as the home of the former Westinghouse Brake & Signal Company.

Electrification of the ECML was completed in 1991 and the signalling is becoming life-expired. Accordingly, the decision to equip with ETCS was helped as there would have been considerable costs to replace the existing signalling with conventional signalling technology.

ETCS was devised to provide inter-operability of trains crossing country borders in Europe and is perhaps best described as a system (or standard) featuring requirements and operating principles. Amongst other attributes, it dispenses with the need for fixed lineside signalling and all information is brought to a screen on the driver’s console. It lends itself to automation of the driving function but the degree of intervention is subject to the requirements of the operator.

The track is supplied with “balises” (location beacons) which are secured in between the rails (at intervals which vary according to the operational, safety and performance requirements) so both the train and the system know exactly where the train is. The system allows the driver/trains to effectively “see round corners” as the movement authority can be for a much longer distance than conventional signalling headways, thus increasing potential capacity /speed

The technology is accessible to the major manufacturers and the train manufacturers produce their own cab ETCS equipment which can talk to ETCS lineside kit made by any other approved manufacturer.

At the moment, the ETCS technology is operating in parallel with conventional signalling, until testing is complete, all trains are fitted with ETCS and driver training is complete. The initial focus for ETCS operation is on the section from Welwyn Garden City to Hitchin. Contracts for equipping the rest of the ECML have not yet been let.

Our thanks to Ed for providing this excellent introduction to ETCS . We had an audience of 27.