Colour
light


lineside
signals
are
being
removed
for
the
first
time
on
a
commuter
railway
as
digital
train
regulation
expands.

Signals
will
be
removed
between
Moorgate
and
Finsbury
Park
over
the
weekend
of
17
and
18
May,
following
the
introduction
of
the
European
Train
Control
System
on
the
route,
which
uses
screens
in
the
cabs
to
keep
drivers
informed.

Work
on
ERTMS,
which
includes
ETCS,
is
also
continuing
between
Welwyn
Garden
City
and
Hitchin,
where
the
new
digital
signalling
will
be
tested
at
high
speeds,
while
preparatory
work
will
be
carried
out
between
Biggleswade
and
Peterborough.

The
high-speed
tests
on
the
Welwyn
Garden
City
to
Hitchin
section
will
allow
engineers
to
assess
the
new
systems
in
‘live’
mode.
Network
Rail
is
planning
to
bring
them
into
service
for
normal
traffic
early
next
year.

ETCS
is
already
used
on
the
central
section
of
Thameslink,
but
traditional
colour
light
signals
have
been
retained
as
well.
The
system
has
also
been
used
for
more
than
a
decade
on
the
Cambrian
lines
between
Shrewsbury
and
the
Welsh
coast.

The
work
between
Moorgate
and
Peterborough
is
part
of
the
wider
programme
to
install
ERTMS
between
London
King’s
Cross
and
Stoke
Tunnel,
just
south
of
Grantham,
at
the
point
where
the
four-track
East
Coast
Main
Line
comes
down
to
double
line.

When
complete,
the
installation
will
be
the
first
of
its
kind
on
a
main
line
in
Britain.

Engineers
will
also
take
advantage
of
the
closure
to
renew
and
refurbish
track
equipment
near
Hornsey
and
Huntingdon,
and
complete
work
on
drains
near
Fletton.

The
various
possessions
mean
that
no
trains
can
run
between
King’s
Cross
and
Peterborough
over
the
weekend
of
17
and
18
May.

Passengers
travelling
from
further
north
will
need
to
use
rail
replacement
coaches
between
Peterborough
and
Bedford,
and
Thameslink
trains
from
there
to
London
St
Pancras
International.
Network
Rail
is
advising
diverted
East
Coast
passengers
not
to
travel
via
Sheffield,
Derby,
Nottingham
or
Chesterfield
to
London,
because
these
routes
are
already
very
busy.

Network
Rail’s
head
of
access
integration
for
the
East
Coast
Digital
Programme
Ricky
Barsby
said:
‘The
testing
work
is
another
step
towards
the
introduction
of
digital,
in-cab
signalling
on
the
East
Coast
Main
Line,
enabling
a
more
reliable
and
greener
railway.
The
work
will
also
see
the
removal
of
traditional
signals
on
a
stretch
of
commuter
railway
in
London,
pointing
the
way
to
the
next
generation
railway.

‘We
recognise
the
work
will
lead
to
journeys
taking
longer
over
that
weekend.
We
would
like
to
thank
all
those
affected
for
their
patience
and
understanding.’

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