Great Britain: Successful Class 43 ETCS tests
The government-funded East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) has completed tests with digital cab signalling for Class 43 power cars that form part of Network Rail's new test train.
The successful completion of the test programme at Network Rail's Rail Innovation and Development Centre (RIDC), which was recently upgraded for ETCS testing, means that the relevant power cars can now be commissioned on the national network, i.e. at National Train Control (NTC) level, without passengers being affected by line closures. Porterbrook, the lead Railway Undertaking (RU) for Class 43 under the National Joint ROSCO (Rolling Stock Company) Programme (NJRP), led the project on behalf of the industry and under instruction from Network Rail. Thales had been awarded the contract to deliver the 'First in Class' design and fit-out project, marking the first successful implementation of an on-board system in the UK.
The tests at RIDC spanned several days and included laboratory tests in the first phase to integrate and test the technology. The second phase physical tests then proved that the ETCS components (train, trackside components, Radio Block Centre) and the train itself work together correctly under real conditions.
With around 700 vehicles to be prepared for the East Coast Digital programme, the First in Class(FiC) test programme at RIDC will involve around 20 to 25 different classes of passenger and goods trains over the next two years.
"The collaboration on the Class 43 project is another example of how our partners are meeting the particular challenges of converting vehicles. Over the next two years, different types of rolling stock will undergo ETCS tests as we continue with the upgrades and retrofits that will enable ECML South to move to ETCS operations."
Many other companies have supported the ETCS project, including Ricardo, which has produced the integration design for all Class 43 builds, Yellow Rail, which has carried out the installation work on behalf of Thales, and Loram UK, which maintains the Class 43 fleet. (jsh)
