All Great Northern trains to Moorgate in the City of London are now controlled by digital signalling technology using the European Train Control System (ETCS).

The European Train Control System provides continuous communication between trains and the track, eliminating the need for signals at the side of the track as the safe speed for the trains is displayed on a computer screen in the driver’s cab.

After an intensive testing period, the system has been implemented on the Northern City Line between Moorgate and Finsbury Park in London as the first stage of the £1.4bn government-funded East Coast Digital Programme.

Implementation of the system involved partners from across the rail industry, including Network Rail, trade union colleagues, train and freight operators, and technology providers.

It is now 12 months since the first passenger train using digital signalling ran to Moorgate, since when Great Northern drivers have been undergoing training to use the system through its parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).

Introduction of digital signalling on the busy commuter route to Moorgate is a prelude to the use of in-cab digital signalling between King’s Cross and Grantham on the southern part of the East Coast Mainline, as a successful roll-out of signalling on that line will provide the base for digital signalling to be introduced across the rest of the UK’s railway network.

“Digital signalling is better for passengers because it means we can run a more consistent, more punctual service. It’s hard to overstate the challenge of moving to ETCS and the significance of reaching the point where every train on our route into Moorgate is controlled this way. It is a huge achievement both for Great Northern and our parent company GTR and also for the railway as a whole because this has been a massive collaborative effort from so many different industry partners. We are pleased with how the new system is working and we are working with Network Rail and Siemens Mobility colleagues to continually review and improve how we operate it.”

Oliver Turner, head of digital signalling (Head of European Rail Traffic Management System [ERTMS]) at Govia Thameslink Railway