Thameslink’s Class 700 fleet is to be upgraded to the latest specification of European Train Control System (ETCS) as part of the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP).

Cross London Trains, DfT, Govia Thameslink Railway, Network Rail and Siemens Mobility have signed a five-year, £32.7million contract to carry out the upgrade.

The Thameslink fleet has 115 locomotives, meaning that it is the largest passenger fleet included in the EDCP, which also includes retrofitting ETCS to Great Northern’s Class 387 Electrostars.

ECDP will replace conventional signals with up-to-date digital signalling.

Instead of signal standing beside the track, the system will provide continuous, real-time information to the driver’s cab.

This will enable passenger and freight trains to run in a more reliable and environmentally-friendly way.

The work will begin this summer with software design and development.

Next year will see a programme of testing and commissioning on the first-in-class 700 unit.

In 2026, the entire fleet will be upgraded, after safety standards have been approved and validated.

Aaron Meakin, ERTMS Fleet Project Manager at Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “This is great news for our trains, our passengers and the East Coast Digital Programme. Together with five industry partners, we’ve signed a contract that will upgrade our trains to the very latest in digital signalling technology.”

Sambit Banerjee, Managing Director of Rolling Stock and Customer Services at Siemens Mobility, said:“We are delighted to be working with our industry partners to provide and install the technology that will enable a transformation for passengers on the East Coast route. The Class 700 has been operating with ETCS in central London since its introduction in 2016 and this upgrade will unlock further benefits.”

Ed Akers, Principal Programme Sponsor, ECDP at Network Rail, said: “Preparing and upgrading trains is the biggest challenge ECDP faces, due to the complexity involved with many partners and commercial arrangements. We’ve worked hard to secure this new contract for the largest passenger fleet on ECDP and all parties will be working collaboratively to ensure effective delivery of these upgrades.”