NETWORK RAIL, United Kingdom

WWW.NETWORKRAIL.CO.UK

Network Rail runs, operates and maintains every aspect of the rail infrastructure in Britain. This includes 18 key stations operated by Network Rail, 2,500 other stations franchised to train operators, 6,650 level crossings, 100 train care depots, 800 signal boxes, 43,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and around 16,500 route Km (32,00 Km of track).

With Strategic Decision from the Governement’s Department of Transport (DfT), Network Rail is leading and funding the ERTMS Programme in Great Britain and has, with it’s industry partners, developed a “preferred” implementation plan for ERTMS that is currently going through industry consultation before being formally agreed in 2013. Further information regarding the overview of the plans can be found at the Digital Railway long-term deployment plan and details of the specifications for ETCS work can be found at the System Requirements and Internation GB Generic Requirements Suite.

COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (PROVISIONAL PLAN OVER NEXT 20 YEARS ONLY)

HIGH SPEED LINES

Great Western Mainline

  • London (Paddingtom) to Bristol.
    • Lenght of the line 300 km
    • Max speed on the line: 200km/h
    • ETCS Level used on the line: Level 2 (overlay until 2026)
    • Supplier for the infrastructure: to be confirmed
    • Supplier for the onboard: to be confirmed
    • Date of commissioning of the line: 2019 (Lineside signals removed 2026)

East Coast Mainline

  • London (Kings Cross) to Doncaster.
    • Lenght of the line 290km
    • Max speed on the line: 200km/
    • ETCS Level used on the line: Level 2
    • Supplier for the infrastructure: to be confirmed
    • Supplier for the onboard: to be confirmed
    • Date of commissioning of the line: 2020

West Coast Mainline

  • London (Euston) to Hanslope Junction (Roade)
    • Lenght of the line 90km
    • Max speed on the line: 200km/
    • ETCS Level used on the line: Level 2
    • Supplier for the infrastructure: to be confirmed
    • Supplier for the onboard: to be confirmed
    • Date of commissioning of the line: 2035

CONVETIONAL LINES

Cambrian Lines: Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli

  • Lenght of the line 215km
  • Max speed on the line: 130km/
  • ETCS Level used on the line: Level 2
  • Supplier for the infrastructure: Ansaldo STS
  • Supplier for the onboard: Ansaldo STS
  • Date of commissioning of the line: past March 2011

Hertford National Integrration facility: Watton at Stone to Hertford North

  • Lenght of the line 8km
  • Max speed on the line: 120km/
  • ETCS Level used on the line: Level 2
  • Supplier for the infrastructure: to be confirmed
  • Supplier for the onboard: to be confirmed
  • Date of commissioning of the line: 2013
  • Integration facility (switchable), 2020 Running Line, as part of East Coast Mainline

Thameslink (Core): London Bridge and Castle to Kentish Town and Finsbury Park

  • Lenght of the line 8km
  • Max speed on the line: 100km/
  • ETCS Level used on the line: Level 2
  • Supplier for the infrastructure: to be confirmed
  • Supplier for the onboard: to be confirmed
  • Date of commissioning of the line: 2015

Midland Mainline: London (St. Pancreas) to Loughborough

  • Lenght of the line 180km
  • Max speed on the line: 180km/
  • ETCS Level used on the line: Level 2
  • Supplier for the infrastructure: to be confirmed
  • Supplier for the onboard: to be confirmed
  • Date of commissioning of the line: 2022
PROVISIONAL TRAIN FITMENT PROGRAMME

In comercial Service:

  • Railcar type: DMU
  • Model: Class 158
  • Quantity: 24
  • Fitment type: retrofitted
  • Year: 2008
  • Supplier: Ansaldo STS
  • Railcar type: Loco
  • Model: Class 97
  • Quantity: 3
  • Fitment type: retrofitted
  • Year: 2008
  • Supplier: Ansaldo STS

Planned

  • Railcar type: Various
  • Model: Various
  • Quantity: 2418
  • Fitment type: retrofitment
  • Year: 2012-2027
  • Supplier: to be confirmed
  • Railcar type: Various
  • Model: Various
  • Quantity: 2747
  • Fitment type: new
  • Year: 2012-2020
  • Supplier: to be confirmed
STM: STATUS AND PERSPECTIVE

The Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) is deployed on the entire British railway network and is required for operation on routes not fitted with ETCS. TPWS is likely to be required on trains fitted with ETCS for some time to allow continued operation outside the ETCS fitted areas. So far it has not been necessary to implement TPWS with an STM interface as it has a relatively simple interface to the train and driver.

There are some other ATP systems in use on specific lines which will remain in operation for a limited period following ETCS deployment. An interface may be required with the ETCS onboard for these ATP systems as some trains will require both systems for a transition period.

GSM-R

The FTN/GSM-R Programme is the largest telecoms project ever to be undertaken on Britain’s railways. The project is providing a new, high functionality, digital radio system that will allow train drivers to communicate directly with signallers across the entire network. This is GSM-R (Global System for Mobile communications

Railways). At the same time, the project is renewing the entire line-side fixed telecoms network that supports all of the railway’s daily telecoms needs. This involves the installation of around 15,000 km of optical fibre and copper cables, installing around 3,000 new transmission sites, over 2,250 new radio sites, 7 new operational telephone exchanges and migration of circa 50,000nr operational circuits. This is FTN (Fixed Telecom Network).

Construction of the Railway Communications System (the collective name for FTN/GSM-R) will implement nationally standardised equipment, significantly improving reliability and replacing ageing infrastructure. It will provide a modern, hightly structured and robust fixed telecoms network designed to meet the operational needs of tomorrow’s railway and cater for Network Rail’s business communications requirements.

Drivers, signallers and trackside workers will be able to communicate directly and securely on a modern digital radio system over all Network Rail controlled infrastructure used for passenger operations, including tunnels and cuttings. This will allow any problems potentially affecting the line, e.g. trackside fire, line fault, safety incidents etc to be quickly communicated to all involved, giving greater advance warning and faster response tiems. This would class communications system offers international compatibility with the European high-speed rail network. It will provide a platform for the introduction of the European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS), known to improve efficiency and significantly increase the rail traffic capacity.

GPRS

Acceleration in the delivery of Packet Switched capable ETCS systems will help Network Rail to meet the challenges imposed to ETCS Level 2 deployment in busy areas due to capacity constraints in GSM-R Circuit Switched channel. It will also serve as a stepping stone in the technology roadmap from GSM-R into successor packet switched technologies, like UMTS, WiFi and LTE.

Network Rail is planning to include ETCS Level 2 over Packet Switched technology in future ERTMS deployments. ETCS over GPRS systems will be tested at Hertford National Integration Facility as part of Network Rail’s ERTMS development plans.