UK Government is developing plans for Britain’s first digital intercity railway in the north, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced as it will invest a record £13 billion (EUR 14.7 billion) in improving journeys across the region. Digital signalling technology is already in operation on the London Underground, and Network Rail will now develop options to make the TransPennine route the first digitally controlled intercity rail line in the country.
“We are about to see a digital revolution in our railways, and we want the north to lead the way. New technology on the Manchester to York route will help us deliver a more reliable and safer railway, with more space for passengers,” Chris Grayling said.
Developing proposals for digital-control on the TransPennine route is to be paid for from a £450 million (EUR 510 million) digital railway fund announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement last year.
As part of the Great North Rail Project, major upgrades are being developed for the TransPennine route between Manchester, Leeds and York from 2022, to slash journey times between Leeds and Manchester to 40 minutes.
Network Rail will receive up to £5 million (EUR 5.66 million) to develop proposals for embedding digital technology between Manchester and York, to help us deliver a more reliable and safer railway. This includes looking at a system of advanced train traffic management – so that a computer works out how to route the trains most efficiently along the line.
The Thameslink programme will use digital technologies so 24 trains per hour can run through the centre of the city from December 2018 on just 2 tracks with 2 platforms. Crossrail trains will also run with in-cab signalling.
The government has launched the biggest modernisation programme of railways in the north since the steam age – and it is investing £40 billion (EUR 45.3 billion) in the network across the country.
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